SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM
1999-2000 Call for Proposals
Application
Deadline December 15, 1999
INTRODUCTION
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
Energy & Sustainable Agriculture Program (ESAP) will provide up to $25,000
to individuals or groups on a competitive basis for sustainable agriculture
demonstration or research projects in Minnesota. Sustainable agriculture is characterized by practices and values
that promote environmental stewardship and conservation of resources, long-term
economic viability and productivity, preservation of quality of life for farm
families and support for rural communities.
The demonstration projects are intended to display and publicize the
profitability, energy efficiency, and environmental benefit of sustainable
agricultural practices and systems.
Interested persons or groups are encouraged to
be creative, develop their own ideas and apply for a grant. Grants are awarded to innovative, promising
and worthwhile demonstrations of sustainable agricultural methods or systems in
Minnesota. The demonstrations may be up
to three years in duration. Annual
progress reports on the project are required each fall and a final report
summarizing all significant findings is required when the project or funding is
ended.
GRANT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Eligible
Recipients and Projects
Eligible projects are those which encourage
widespread adoption of sustainable agriculture systems by Minnesota
farmers. Eligible recipients include
Minnesota farmers, and individuals at Minnesota educational institutions and
non-profit organizations, and local natural resource agencies. The intent is to give preference to projects
that are farmer initiated. All
non-farmer initiated projects must show collaboration with farmers.
Grants may only be made to applicants residing
or located in the state for demonstrations on farms in the state. An applicant is eligible to receive only one
Sustainable Agriculture Grant at a time. Grantees who have completed projects are
eligible to receive additional grants to continue previous projects or for new
ideas.
Eligible Activities
The program objectives
are to demonstrate and publicize the profitability, energy efficiency, and
environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture practices and systems. Grants will be available to fund
demonstrations on farms of
practices or systems that promote environmental stewardship and conservation of
resources, improve long-term economic viability and productivity, improve the
quality of life for farm families and support rural communities consistent with
the application criteria. The program
does not fund projects that duplicate previously funded projects. An exception is funding for similar projects
in parts of the state where the practice or system is still considered new or
innovative. Read through the Greenbook '99 to see the summaries and locations of previous grants and
design a project to meet your objectives and to add new information.
For projects that involve large collaborative
efforts, the first year of the project may be used for team development and
project planning. This allows the use
of grant funds to support the careful, thoughtful development of a project by
an appropriate group of cooperators.
The program also encourages one year planning grants. Planning grants can be used to put together
a team and design workplans.
Individuals or groups may apply for up to $5,000 for a planning
grant. After the planning grant is
completed the grantee may apply for a grant to implement the plans.
Application
Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the
following criteria (not in order of priority):
1. The demonstration project should show the ability
to realize direct (fuel or electricity) or indirect (fertilizers, insecticides,
herbicides, fungicides) energy savings; external input reduction; or on-farm
resource production.
2. The demonstration project should show a
positive effect on the environment, the community and on family quality of
life.
3. The demonstration project should show
increased profitability for the individual farm by reducing purchased inputs
and/or increasing income including product development, processing, and
improvements in marketing.
4. The results of the project should have
applicability to other farms and the techniques or systems demonstrated should
be easily adapted by other farmers. The
application must include an effective public information plan to communicate project
results to the appropriate audiences.
5. The applicant should document his/her ability
to accomplish project goals and experience with the practice or system being
proposed. In the case of a
collaborative project, an appropriate team of participants has been identified.
6. The proposed project design, implementation
plan and method for objectively measuring results will achieve the goals of the
project. The proposed budget and
timeline are feasible and appropriate for the proposed activities.
Project
Funding
Grants may cover the total costs for eligible
projects requiring less than $25,000.
The average grant award is about $12,000 with a range of awards from
$4,000 to $25,000. Multi-site,
cooperative projects may be eligible for additional funding with proof of a 1:1
cash match. All costs that can be shown
to be directly required by the project activities will be considered eligible
costs for funding if they have been identified and approved in the application
and award process. These can include
the costs of salaries paid for time spent directly on the grant project over
normal farming operations, consultant fees, materials and supplies needed to
conduct the project, costs associated with lease or use of farm equipment and
costs associated with your public information plan. Purchase of most farm
equipment will not be funded.
Grant projects are funded for up to three years
- three year projects are preferred.
Multi-year projects will be evaluated each year before second or third
year funding is approved. Cost overruns
from original yearly grant amounts will not be eligible for additional grant
money.
Project
Evaluation Process
Applications need to be detailed and will go
through an intensive competitive selection process involving the program
staff, a technical review panel
(described below) and the Commissioner of Agriculture, who will ultimately make
the awards considering the recommendations and ranking by the technical review
panel.
A technical review panel will evaluate grant
applications and make recommendations to the Commissioner. The panel consists of at least the
following:
A
soil scientist,
An
agronomist,
A
representative from a post-secondary educational institution,
Two
farmers using sustainable farming methods,
Two
farmers using organic methods, and
A
chairperson representing the MDA
SUBMITTING
YOUR APPLICATION
The application has two parts - both must be
submitted to be considered for funding.
The application was designed to be complete, to assist you with thinking
through and planning your project, and to ensure equal opportunity. The questions provide you with opportunities
to present your ideas and the benefits of your project in detail to the
technical review panel so that they can objectively evaluate your application
based on the application criteria.
The first part of the
application includes:
• information on the project objectives or
goals;
• the applicant's plan for setting up,
carrying out and evaluating the study over the full length of the project,
including a timeline;
• a plan for sharing information from the
study with other farmers. A portion of
every grant award should be targeted for project public information activities
(such as tours, publications, field days and news articles). Further assistance for this public
information activity requirement is available from MDA; and,
• background information on the applicant and
a list of cooperators; any person listed as participating on the project,
besides the applicant, must submit a letter stating their role in the
project.
When filling in the first part of the
application, use the cover page and timeline sheets supplied as part of the
application package. Use only three to
five pages of white paper (one-sided typed or printed in black ink) to answer
the five questions listed on page two of the application.
The second part is a budget form and
worksheet. Both the budget form and
budget worksheets must be submitted.
The worksheet is a guide to planning project related expenses over the
term of the study and gives reviewers a more detailed idea of how grant funds
will be used. Transfer the annual
totals in each category to the budget form.
If your proposal is approved for funding, the annual budget totals will
be used to determine the schedule of grant payments.
If you plan to reproduce the application on your
computer, please follow the cover page, timeline and budget sheet formats and
page lengths. To make copying easier,
please do not use the backs of the application pages to answer
questions. Please keep a copy of
your application for your own records.
Submitted applications will not be returned.
Assistance
Questions about the Sustainable Agriculture
Demonstration Grants can be directed to Energy & Sustainable Agriculture
Program, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 90 West Plato Boulevard, St.
Paul, MN 55107, (651) 296-7673. All applicants are encouraged to obtain technical assistance in
preparing the application and help with idea development from MDA staff upon
request. MDA staff have experience in
many areas of sustainable agriculture such as cropping systems, alternative
livestock production systems, soil quality, whole farm planning, integrated
pest management, marketing, and organic production. However, any assistance provided will not guarantee a grant
award.
Applications
must be RECEIVED at the
Minnesota Department of Agriculture no later than 4:30 p.m. CST, Wednesday,
December 15, 1999 (faxes will not be accepted).
Applications should be
sent to:
Sustainable
Agriculture Grant Project
Energy
& Sustainable Agriculture Program
Minnesota
Department of Agriculture
90
West Plato Boulevard
St.
Paul, MN 55107
SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROJECT APPLICATION
1999/2000
Type or print neatly on
8 1/2 by 11 white paper - Use BLACK INK
(NO PENCIL)
Date: _____________________________________
Project
Title:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
of Applicant:
______________________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________ City:_________________ Zip:__________
County: __________________________________ Telephone: ( __
)___________________________
Social
Security # or Federal Tax I.D. of Applicant or Organization :
______________________________
Contact
Person (if different):
_____________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________ City:_________________ Zip:__________
County: ________________________________ Telephone: ( __
)_____________________________
Project
Duration: ___________ Starting Date: _________________ Ending
Date:_________________
Total
Budget Request:
_______________________________
Agricultural
Enterprise(s) Involved in this Project (crops, livestock, etc.)
__________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Directions
to the Project (be specific): ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Description
of Current Farming Operation:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
In 3 to 5 pages, please
answer these 5 questions about your project.
Use the questions following each main question only as suggestions for
information to include in your answer - they may not all apply to your project. Please type or print with black ink on white
8 1/2 by 11 paper.
1. Why do you want to do this project? What
are your reasons for doing this project?
What do you want to change? Is
there a problem you want to address?
How does this project fit into your long term plans for your farm? Will there be environmental benefits for
your farm, community, watershed, etc.?
Does this project reduce or make better use of non-renewable resources? How will these changes affect profitability
on your farm? Are there input cost
reductions, improved markets, increased income? Will these changes affect your quality of life and that of your
family? What effect will the changes
have on working conditions, labor input, type of work done, family
participation on the farm, on your community, etc.?
2. What do you plan to do? Describe your project in detail. What practices or systems do you want to
study? What is the size of your
demonstration such as number of acres or animals, etc.? What is innovative and intriguing about what
you plan to do? If applicable, provide
a layout drawing or diagram of the demonstration/research project such as your
crop rotation plan, paddock design, etc.
3. How will you evaluate this project? How
will you know if you have achieved what you wanted? How will you know if the changes are beneficial? How will you measure and evaluate the
results of the project? What data, measurements
and evaluations will you record? What
will be compared?
4. How will you share what you learn from this
project? What methods will you use to get your
information to farmers and others who would benefit from knowing about your
project? Do you plan to do field days,
participate in workshops, prepare publications, etc.? Will other farmers find your project interesting and useful? Can other farmers easily adapt what you
learn to their own farms? Who could you
work with to get your information to the public?
5. Who is involved in your project? Describe
your qualifications to accomplish this project such as number of years you have
farmed, your achievements, related work experience, organizational memberships,
etc. List the names, addresses, and
phone numbers of other cooperators such as other farmers, organizations,
consultants, extension agents, etc. What
will the cooperators do? Letters of
support and type of participation from cooperators are required.
6.
Timetable and Milestones Planning Worksheet
List the main steps in the work
activities for the full length of the project with their approximate starting
time and approximate season for completion.
Include anticipated dates for delivery of progress reports and for any
subcontracting that must be done.
Start Complete
Activity Season
and Year Season
and Year
1. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
2. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
3. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
4. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
5. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
6. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
7. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
8. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
9. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
10. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
11. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
12. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
13. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
14. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
15. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
16. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
17. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
18. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
19.
___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
20.
___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
21. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
22. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
23. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
24. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
25. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
26. ___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
27.
___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
28.
___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
29.
___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
30.
___________________________________ ___________________ __________________
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROJECT APPLICATION
BUDGET
FORM
(Use worksheet on the next
3 pages to estimate budget. List only
those budget items
for which you will be
seeking grant funds.)
ITEM: 2000 2001 2002 Total
1. Analysis (soil, plant, water, manure,
statistical) _______ _______ _______ ______
2. Consultants, Subcontractors, _______ _______ _______ ______
Bookkeeping,
Clerical, Other
Services
3. Personnel Salaries (time/labor) _______ _______ _______ ______
(Only labor directly related to grant activities
over and above time spent on normal farm
operations is eligible for funding.)
4. Supplies and Materials _______ _______ _______ ______
(Purchase of most new
farm equipment
will not be funded.)
5. Use of Farm Equipment _______ _______ _______ ______
6. Public Information Costs _______ _______ _______ ______
7. Communications: Telephone/mail _______ _______ ________ ______
8. Travel _______ _______ ________ ______
======================================
9. Total Funds or Costs
If
applicable, list other sources of funding for this project that you have
received or have applied for:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
BUDGET WORKSHEET
1.
Analysis (Soil, plant, water, manure, statistical, etc.)
|
Type |
Number of Tests |
$ Costs |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000 Subtotal |
|
|
2001 |
|
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2001 Subtotal |
|
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2002 |
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|
|
2002 Subtotal |
|
2.
Consultants and Other Services Purchased Off Farm
|
Name |
Fee/hr. |
Number of Hours |
$ Costs |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
2000 Subtotal |
|
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2001 |
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2001 Subtotal |
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2002 |
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2002 Subtotal |
|
3. Personnel Salaries (Family or hired labor directly
related to grant activities over time spent on normal farm operations)
|
Name |
Wage/hr. |
Number of Hours |
$ Costs |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
2000 Subtotal |
|
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2001 |
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2001 Subtotal |
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2002 |
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|
2002 Subtotal |
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4.
Supplies and Materials (Purchase of most new farm equipment will not be
funded.)
|
Item |
Purpose |
$ Costs |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
2000 Subtotal |
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2001 |
|
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|
2001 Subtotal |
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2002 |
|
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|
2002 Subtotal |
|
5.
Use of Farm Equipment
|
Equipment Item |
# Acres in Project |
Standard Charge/Acre |
$ Costs |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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2000 Subtotal |
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2001 |
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2001 Subtotal |
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2002 |
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|
2002 Subtotal |
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6.
Public Information Costs
|
Item |
Purpose |
$ Costs |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
2000 Subtotal |
|
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2001 |
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|
2001 Subtotal |
|
|
2002 |
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|
2002 Subtotal |
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7.
Communication: Telephone/Mail
|
Item |
Purpose |
$ Costs |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
2000 Subtotal |
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2001 |
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2001 Subtotal |
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2002 |
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2002 Subtotal |
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8. Travel
|
From |
To |
Purpose |
# Miles x |
Cost/Mile |
= $ Costs |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
2000 Subtotal |
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|
2001 |
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2001 Subtotal |
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2002 |
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2002 Subtotal |
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