Minnesota State Wire

Minnesota's continuous living cover crop development has gained momentum with the recent allocation of grants. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has distributed $431,637 across 10 new projects under the Developing Markets for Continuous Living Cover Grant. These grants are aimed at advancing enterprises, supply chains, and markets for continuous living cover crops that are in early commercial stages.

The funding for this initiative comes from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and the state's General Fund.

Continuous living cover (CLC) involves agricultural practices where live plants and roots are maintained in the soil throughout the year. These practices include cover crops planted between annual crops, agroforestry, perennial forage, biomass, and grain production, such as regenerative poultry silvopasture systems, Kernza perennial grain, winter camelina, and elderberry.

These crops are noted for their ability to improve water and soil quality, sequester carbon, enhance soil health, and support biodiversity and pollinator habitats. The MDA emphasized the necessity for strong value chains and markets to achieve these environmental benefits through widespread production.

Specific projects receiving grants include Bang Brewing Company LLC, which aims to increase Kernza in its beer and improve its marketing efforts with a $45,000 grant. Estling Farms Inc has been granted $45,000 to develop a seed cleaning line to lower CLC crop seed costs for farmers in northern Minnesota.

The Midwest Elderberry Cooperative will use $45,000 to enhance its regional hub for elderberries, while Midwest Hazelnuts LLC received $44,772 for equipment at an aggregation station. Other organizations, such as Perennial Pantry and Perennial Promise Growers, will utilize their grants for marketing and expanding Kernza's market presence, respectively.

The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, Sturdiwheat Inc., SUN Consulting Inc., and Tree Range Farms also received funding ranging from $35,865 to $45,000 for various projects designed to enhance CLC crop production and marketing capabilities across Minnesota.