Friends and neighbors —
Being a farmer is an exceptionally difficult career. One of my goals in the Senate is to make sure we not only show farmers the appreciation they deserve but also to make sure that appreciation goes hand-in-hand with the support they need to continue keeping us healthy and well-fed.
As part of this ongoing effort, Minnesota has grants available to support emerging farmers. Recently the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced recipients of the latest round of grant funding for the Emerging Farmer Technical Assistance Grant Program, which provides support to emerging farmers and farmers from historically underserved communities.
Eight organizations have received a total of $554,920 in one-time grants, including the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association in Nerstrand, which received $100,000. They plan to use their grant to help farmers navigate the USDA’s Micro Farm Crop Insurance program and support farmers with the insurance premium payments.
As stewards of our food supply, farmers play an indispensable role in our economy and society. We depend on their hard work to put food on our tables. Farmers deserve both our appreciation and our support. I am excited to see these grants help a brand new generation of farmers.