St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting applications for soil health grants to help build more resilient landscapes throughout the state. Up to $3.5 million in Clean Water Funds is available for grants that support soil health practices. Eligible applicants include soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, counties, watershed management organizations, and municipalities with an approved water management plan.
Soil health practices such as cover crops, reduced tillage, rotational grazing and agroforestry can help improve water quality, reduce runoff and store carbon in the soil. In the long-term, they can potentially benefit producers by increasing water availability for crops and protecting the soil from erosion caused by rain and wind.
“Soil health practices can offer multiple benefits to producers and their local communities,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “This funding will not only improve water quality and reduce runoff but will support farmers who want to invest in the long-term health of the landscapes they live and work on.”
Applications will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. on May 9. Applications must be submitted through eLINK, BWSR’s grants management system. More information about how to apply can be found here.