Minnesota livestock farmers and specialty crop producers can still apply for up to $7,500 per farm in reimbursement for expenses incurred due to last year’s drought through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) 2021 Agricultural Drought Relief Program (ADRoP). There is $8.1 million available for the program.

Who:

Livestock farmers and specialty crop producers in all Minnesota counties except Goodhue, Rice, Wabasha, and Winona are eligible. Eligible counties were designated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a primary natural disaster area after July 19, 2021, and before January 1, 2022. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, horticulture, floriculture and nursery crops, as defined by the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

What:

Farm operators will be reimbursed for up to $7,500 per farm for drought-related expenses incurred after June 1, 2021, and before May 23, 2022. If the total amount requested from all eligible applicants during the initial application period exceeds the total amount of funds available, all applications will be pro-rated.

Eligible expenses for specialty crop producers include water handling equipment; water hauling; wells; irrigation equipment; replacement plants, seeds, or seedlings; additional hired labor; farmers’ market fees for canceled markets; and more.

Eligible expenses for livestock farmers include water-related expenses; feed-related expenses; custom bailing; equipment rental; livestock transportation; livestock pond dredging; cover crop, pasture or forage replanting; fencing; grazing rights; additional hired labor; and more.

Refer to the application for a complete list of eligible expenses.

How:

The application is available on the MDA’s drought relief page. Applicants are highly encouraged to submit their application through the online grants management system to ensure it is received in a timely manner. If you do not submit online, applications can be emailed or mailed.

In addition to a completed application, you must submit an IRS Form W-9 and a list of all drought-related expenses. Documentation of these expenses does not need to be submitted with the application, but you must be able to make it available for examination if requested.

When:

Applications completed online or emailed must be received by 5 p.m. on July 6, 2022. Mailed applications must be postmarked July 6 and received no later than July 12, 2022, to be considered.

Questions?

More information is available on the MDA’s drought relief page. Farm operators can email drought@state.mn.us or call the Grants Line at 651-201-6500 with any questions. Interpreters are available for those calling the Grants Line.