|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
 July 2025
 A new grant program from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) created to help new farmers with the cost of purchasing needed equipment and infrastructure awarded 97 grants totaling $856,833 across 45 Minnesota counties in its first year.
Demand for the Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant far outstripped legislative funding for the grant, with 1,100 eligible applicants requesting $18.6 million from the grant program. Learn more.
Visit MDA's Emerging Farmers Booth at the State Fair
If you are attending the Minnesota State Fair this year, stop by the Agriculture Horticulture Building to visit the MDA area which includes the Emerging Farmers Booth. We look forward to seeing you and have some fun giveaways!
|
 Meet Emerging Farmers' Working Group Member: Jina Rahimi
Jina Rahimi is an emerging farmer at Big River Farms, where she gets to blend her love for the environment with a commitment to food sovereignty.
Before farming, Jina spent over a decade working with various nonprofits that serve under-resourced communities in the Twin Cities. Seeing how food insecurity impacted families’ health and stability, she turned to growing vegetables as a direct, hands-on way to nourish communities and address food insecurity.
Jina is currently pursuing a master's degree in the study of law at Hamline University and hopes to use her legal knowledge to advocate for small farmers and climate-focused policies. She co-leads the Policy Action Team at the Metro Food Justice Network, serves on the Land Access Committee with The Land Stewardship Project, and is a 2025-2026 Root and Bloom Fellow with the National Young Farmers Coalition. She also works as a contractor with the Midwest Farmers of Color Collective (MFCC) and the Pesticides, Pollinator, and Public Health (PPP) Coalition, where she collects farmer stories and helps rally for legislation to restrict the use of neonicotinoids in agriculture.
|
Many thanks to outgoing EFWG facilitator Michael Birchard for five years of service
 In June, the Emerging Farmers' Working Group (EFWG) wrapped up its fifth year of participation, where outgoing facilitator Michael Birchard was involved since 2019. Michael, an emerging farmer himself, welcomed five cohorts of EFWG members and help create an inclusive and energetic meeting space. The EFWG has gone through different stages of development and after the working group became permanent it helped cement the founding of the Emerging Farmers Office. Michael was steadfast in welcoming all and creating a good space to share and listen. Thank you, Michael, for all of your work with this group over the years!
Next chance to apply for EFWG coming soon
If you are interested to learn more about the opportunity to serve on the MDA's Emerging Farmers' Working Group, stay tuned for the application to open in the coming weeks.
 Resources for Emerging Farmers
 AGRI Value-added Grant, due August 7, an MDA program which supports Minnesota-based businesses and producers who are looking to start, modernize, or expand value-added processing of Minnesota-grown or -raised agricultural products. Funds can be used for equipment purchases and facility improvements that boost production, diversify markets, and increase access to locally made goods.
Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant, due August 7, an MDA program to facilitate the start-up, modernization, or expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing businesses.
Soil Health Financial Assistance Grant, due August 29, an MDA program offering cost-share for the purchase and retrofit of soil health equipment.
Make it Minnesota, open for applications, an MDA program which supports Minnesota-manufactured Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) food, beverage, or pet food companies to take advantage of growth opportunities through a variety of high-impact marketing activities.
Compeer Grants, Did you know that Compeer Financial offers a variety of grant programs for farmers, farmers' markets and rural communities? Applicants must be based in Compeer’s 144-county territory.
Find more resources on the MDA Emerging Farmers resource page and the MDA grant and loan opportunities page. You can sign up to receive notifications about MDA grant opportunities via email (After entering your email, check the box for notifications related to “Grants and Loans).
 National Farmers Market Week is August 3-9
 There are 402 farmers’ markets and more than 10,000 market vendors across Minnesota and Tribal Nations, according to the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association. In the first week of August, Minnesotans are invited to celebrate the bounty of the harvest season during National Farmers Market Week Aug. 3–9. The MDA is partnering with Minnesota Grown, Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association, Minnesota Farmers Union, and Land Stewardship Project to recognize the week with events at nine farmers' markets across the state.
Governor Walz Celebrates Agriculture Bill
 On July 28, Governor Tim Walz ceremonially signed the omnibus agriculture bill passed by the Legislature this session at Minnesota Grown member Apple Jack Orchards in Delano, MN. Read the Governor’s press release about the signing and see photos on MDA social media.
New Campaign Combats Extreme Heat
Minnesota — known for its frigid temperatures — has been getting warmer and warmer. And scientists predict that extreme heat events will become more frequent in our state. To prepare for these changes and to educate all Minnesotans about the often underestimated dangers of heat exposure, the Minnesota Department of Health launched the STAY COOL MN campaign. While the message is simple, it has the power to save lives and lessen the impact of extreme heat on affected people and communities. To learn more and share vital information, visit mn.gov/heat.
|
MDA Leaders Visit Emerging Farmers
 Over the summer months, MDA Commissioner Thom Peterson, Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey and several other MDA staff visited emerging farmers such as EFWG member and Route 1 founder Marcus Carpenter (left) and Minnesota African Immigrant Farmers Association (right). Follow MDA Facebook and Instagram to see where the Commissioners visit around the state.
|
