Helping turn dreams into reality

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Nothing lasts forever. Eventually buildings and livestock equipment need to be updated. Each year, to help ease the financial burden of these changes, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture offers Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation Livestock Investment Grants.

Pat Scapanski, a 2023 AGRI Livestock Investment Grant recipient, used the funds to build a new freestall barn. Scapanski milks 350 cows in a swing-16 parlor near Foley.

“The way we were operating before was a lot of work,” Scapanski said. “We had high somatic cell count, a high cull rate and dirty cows. Getting this freestall barn eliminated a lot of work, a lot of bedding, and freed up a lot more of our time to work on other things.”

Prior to building the barn, Scapanski’s cows loafed on an outside bedding pack. The new freestall barn is a 130- by 220-foot facility that includes a calving pen and automatic manure scrapers.

“Getting the grant allowed us to get a few of the extra things that we wouldn’t have otherwise, such as the manure scrapers,” Scapanski said.

Scapanski heard about the grant in a Farm Service Agency newsletter.
He was already familiar with the process because he received an AGRI Livestock Investment Grant in 2013 and installed new barn lighting. This time around, he enlisted the help of Amy Robak, with Centra Sota Cooperative.

“I already work with her for our manure management, and she also assists with grant writing,” Scapanski said. “When we got the approval for the grant, we started purchasing materials and kept all the receipts. We had to keep track of everything for our own loan purposes anyway.”

Scapanski farms with his dad, Gary, mom, Shirley, and uncle, Tom. Together they farm 500 acres and raise all their own replacements and steers. Scapanski encourages other farmers to apply for the AGRI Livestock Investment Grants.

“It was a pretty seamless process,” Scapanski said. “It’s not hard, and it’s money available to make your operation better. Don’t be afraid to apply.”

Last year, 18 dairy farmers received grants totaling $282,000 as reimbursements for farm improvements. This year, applications for the livestock investment grants are due Nov. 13. This fiscal year, $1.4 million is available for producers.

Courtney VanderMay, a grant supervisor with the MDA, oversees the AGRI Livestock Investment Grant program.

“It’s important for MDA to offer these grants to boost our livestock industry,” VanderMay said. “Ag in general has had its ups and downs over the last year. Having an incentive for people to update and modernize their farm makes it possible for farmers.”

New this year, the MDA has raised the reimbursement rate from 10% to 50% for the first $20,000, and then 25% of expenses thereafter. The program allows only one grant per project, and the maximum award per farm is $25,000 in a state fiscal year.

“I am excited to see the impact this grant will have on our livestock producers,” VanderMay said. “Producers have been wanting to see a higher reimbursement rate to help their farms make necessary improvements.”

VanderMay said she encourages farmers to visit the MDA website to learn about the application, the scoring rubric and what projects are eligible. If producers have additional questions, they can contact staff using the phone or email provided on the website.

Tagen Miller with Miller Broz. Dairy received a 2023 AGRI Livestock Investment Grant. The dairy milks 240 cows with four Lely milking robots that started up in January 2024.

“I didn’t quite have enough saved up for the risk (of buying the robots), and then this grant was able to make it a risk worth taking,” Miller said. “It taught me that sometimes you have to reinvest in something, then make it better to make it easier for yourself.”

Miller farms with his brother and sister-in-law, Bryton and Morgan, and parents, Tom and Kay.

“My brother and I both bought one, and my parents bought the other two (robots),” Miller said. “That’s where that grant money went.”

Currently, Miller holds an off-farm job but is at the home farm every chance he can to assist with chores and field work.

“It’s about reinvesting into something that you’re invested in,” Miller said.

For farmers applying for the next round of grants, Miller offers advice.

“Have somebody proofread everything,” Miller said. “Don’t leave any details out, and make sure you elaborate on all the questions. Don’t just answer the questions yes or no; give an explanation of why.”