INSTRUCTIONS

Application Part A—Farmer Information

Complete the farmer information section and answer the yes/no eligibility and demographic questions using the definitions below. Note: Applicant name must match the purchaser of the land. Married couples may only complete one combined application.

Definitions

Minnesota Resident means the applicant has established a permanent home within Minnesota’s borders and has no present intention of moving outside the state.

Good Standing with the State of Minnesota:

  • No back taxes owed.
  • No defaults on Minnesota State-backed financing for the last seven years.
  • Acceptable performance on past MDA grants.
  • Compliant with current state regulations.

Direct Ownership is when an individual is the direct owner of farmland, shareholder in an operation that includes farmland, or the beneficiary of a life estate that includes farmland. Indirect Ownership is any interest or traceable interest in farmland.

Family is considered a person who is related by blood or marriage to the applicant or applicant's spouse. To be eligible for this grant, an applicant cannot purchase farmland from a family member, which includes any person or entity owned by a person within three degrees of relation to the applicant or applicant's spouse.

Application Part B – Purchase Information

Complete the farmland purchase information section with as many details as you have for the land you intend to purchase. If you do not have some of this information, you may leave questions blank; however, you will need to be prepared with all this information and close on your farmland purchase within six months if your application is approved. If your grant application is approved, you will also need to provide copies of:

  • Purchase agreement
  • Schedule F or signed statement claiming no farm sales to report
  • Loan estimates or other proof of secured financing
  • Other documentation required as needed to ensure the applicant qualifies for this program

The MDA will award these grants using a random lottery process, with priority given to eligible applicants with no more than $100,000 in annual gross farm product sales and eligible applicants who are producers of industrial hemp, cannabis, or specialty crops. Complete grant RFP eligibility, rules, and instructions is available on the program website.

Privacy Notice: The information provided by an applicant will be used to assess the applicant’s eligibility to receive a Down Payment Assistance Grant from the MDA. The decision to apply for this grant is voluntary, and applicants are not legally required to provide any of the requested information. Applicants may decline to complete this application without any legal consequence. However, only completed applications will be considered for a grant; incomplete applications will not be considered.

Access to private or nonpublic data provided as part of this application is limited to those authorized by law, including but not necessarily limited to MDA staff and contractors with a valid work assignment to access the data, parties authorized by the applicant, parties identified in a valid court order or federal subpoena, Minnesota Management and Budget, Minnesota Department of Administration, the state auditor, and the legislative auditor. If necessary, the MDA may also share the data with law enforcement or the Office of the Attorney General.

Farmer information
Applicant information
Are you a Minnesota resident?
Do you intend to purchase farmland as an individual or married couple?

(LLCs, partnerships, nonprofits, corporations, and other businesses are not eligible)

Are you in good standing with the State of Minnesota?
Is the farmland you intend to purchase located within Minnesota borders?
Will you provide the majority of physical labor and management for the farm you intend to purchase?
Do you agree that for each year you do not own and farm the land during the following five-year period, you will pay a penalty to the commissioner equal to 20 percent of the grant amount?
Did you gross less than $250,000 in farm sales last year?
Did you gross less than $100,000 in farm sales last year?
Have you or your spouse ever had direct or indirect ownership in farmland or other agricultural property (tillable acres, hog barn, commercial greenhouse, etc.)?
Do you intend to buy farmland from a family member or spouse’s family member with this grant?
Have you been convicted of criminal offense related to a state grant agreement?
What crops do you grow or intend to grow
What livestock do you raise or intend to raise?
Purchase information
If available, please provide the following information about the farmland you are purchasing
If available, does this farm include a home or other non-agricultural improvement?
If available, provide financing amounts, including as applicable:
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