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"Down Payment Assistance Grant" is currently closed and not accepting applications.
Down Payment Assistance Grant is sponsored by Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Offers financial assistance to qualified farmers purchasing their first farm in Minnesota.
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Down Payment Assistance Grant | Minnesota Department of Agriculture Business Dev, Loans, Grants Corporate Farm Information Food Business Development Exporting & International Trade Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Farm, Property, Real Estate Listing (MN FarmLink) Disaster & Cleanup Assistance Agriculture Chemical Response & Reimbursement Account Livestock Dealer Licensing Agricultural Best Management Practices (AgBMP) Loan VIEW ALL Grants & Funding Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant Local Food Purchase Assistance Down Payment Assistance Grant Agricultural Growth, Research & Innovation (AGRI) Program Livestock Investment (AGRI) More Business Development, Loans, Grants Topics Environment, Sustainability Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program Best Management Practices Minnesota Organic Conference Governor's Council on Biofuels AGRI Bioincentive Program AGRI Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Clean Water Fund Activities Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program Water Monitoring Programs Agriculture in a Changing Climate More Environment, Sustainability Topics VIEW ALL Specific Pesticides Apply, Register, Store, Sell Pesticide Use & Sales Data Monitoring Pesticides in Water Regulation, Inspection & Enforcement Integrated Pest Management Apply, Register, Store, Sell Fertilizer Use & Sales Data Monitoring Nitrate in Water Anhydrous Ammonia Program Certified Testing Laboratories (soil & manure) Pesticide Container Recycling Pesticide & Fertilizer Complaints Fertilizer Tonnage Reporting & Inspection Fees Pesticide Dealer Licensing & Sales Reporting Registered Product Search Find Pesticide, Fertilizer Products Clean Water Fund Activities Clean Water Fund Activities Best Management Practices Pest Control without Pesticide BMPs More Pesticide & Fertilizer Topics Resources for New Food Businesses How to Start a Food Business Licensing Liaison Request Meat & Poultry Processing Recent Recall Notifications Food & Feed Inspection Programs Manufactured Food Inspection Program Commercial Feed & Pet Food Secure Milk Supply Program Food Ingredients/Allergens Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Feed & Pet Food Business Info VIEW ALL Insect Pests & Diseases Report a Plant, Pest or Disease Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Bacterial Canker of Tomato Biological Control of Emerald Ash Borer Nursery Certification and Plant Regulation Export Certification Program More PLANTS, INSECTS topics Pesticide Dealer Sales Reporting Learn, Apply, Renew or Train Fertilizers, Pesticides & Chemicals Food – Cottage, Retail, Wholesale Produce, Fruits, Vegetables View all Licensing & Inspections Down Payment Assistance Grant Minnesota Department of Agriculture Business Dev, Loans, Grants Down Payment Assistance Grant The Minnesota Down Payment Assistance Grant offers up to $20,000 for qualified farmers purchasing their first farm .
The MDA will award these grants using a random lottery process with priority given to eligible applicants as described below. Our most recent application cycle was August 5 - September 15, 2025. The next round of funding is anticipated for late summer 2026.
On Monday, August 18, the MDA hosted a Zoom information session to share details about the grant program. Watch the recording on the MDA's YouTube page, here .
Individual (LLCs, partnerships, etc. must apply and buy farm as individual) Demonstrate knowledge of the type of farming they intend to do Earn less than $250,000 annually in gross agricultural sales Applicants and their spouses have never owned a farm Cannot buy farm from a direct family member Will provide the majority of labor and management on the farm Will commercially farm the land for at least 5 years In good standing with the State of Minnesota Have not been convicted of a crime related to a state grant agreement Earn less than $100,000 annually in gross agricultural sales, or Produce one or more of the following crops: industrial hemp, cannabis, specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural crops) as defined by the USDA Farmland or other agricultural real estate (tillable acres, hog barn, commercial greenhouse, etc.) Within the borders of Minnesota Must close on purchase after application approval and within designated timeframe.
This grant cannot be applied retroactively toward purchases that have already closed. Looking to purchase farmland?
Check out the MDA's other land access programs: Beginning Farmer Tax Credit - state tax credits for landlords and sellers who lease/sell to new farmers Farm Advocates - free, 1:1 support navigating farm financials, land access, and more Farm Business Management - business and financial training from an approved instructor RFA Loans - low interest financing for farmers FarmLink - online land access directory Farmland Access Hub – land directory, resources, and 1:1 support for farm sellers and seekers Buying a Farm - Webinar Series The MDA and the Farmland Access Hub partnered to host a series of informational webinars.
Each webinar focuses on a different topic related to the grant program and the farm-buying process.
Grant Overview & Preparation for Buying a Farm Self-led Farm Dreams Visioning Exercise (Land Stewardship Project) Farmland Access Financial Decision Making Tool (Land Stewardship Project) Affordability & Financing Your Farm Purchase MDA Approved Farm Business Management Programs Farmland Access Navigators Finding Farmland (How to look and what to look for) Farmland Evaluation Checklist (Land Access Hub) Necessary, Desirable, Optional Worksheet (Land for Good) Grant Instructions - FY26 204.
61 KB Grant Instructions - FY26 (HMONG) 378. 01 KB Grant Instructions - FY26 (SOMALI) 253. 16 KB Grant Instructions - FY26 (SPANISH) 211.
49 KB Rural Finance Authority Office
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Individuals purchasing their first farm in Minnesota. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $20,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The published deadline was January 1, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
Down Payment Assistance Grant is funded by Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in Minnesota. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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