ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota farmers can request for low-interestloans to help them adopt practices that will lead them to a moresustainable cultivation system.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) SustainableAgriculture Loan Program provides loans for funds purchases tohelp farmers variegate their operations or implementenvironmentally sound practices.
Individual farmers are authorised to take up to $40,000 in loansfor the buy of new or used apparatus and/or facilities. Forjoint projects, any particular is authorised for $40,000 with amaximum of $160,000 per project. The fascination rate is to loan is3 percent over a five- or seven-year period.
MDA's Sustainable Ag Loan Program spokesman, Wayne Monsen, says theprogram has released more than $3.6 million in loans to more than 340Minnesota farmers given it began in 1989.
"These loans have extended farmers' capability to reply to consumerdemand for local foods, to adopt practices that preserve dirt andimprove H2O quality, and to see an enlarge in profitability,"Monsen said.
Eligible purchases or improvements might add apparatus indispensable totransition to or spread natural production; fencing and watersystems for rotational grazing; fertilisers handling; improvements tolivestock facilities; hoop buildings or other low-cost livestockfacilities; apparatus for substitute weed and dirt management;on-farm appetite production; and on-farm value-added processing. Atechnical examination cabinet evaluates the applications formed ontheir promising to enlarge plantation profitability and gain theenvironment.
For an focus or extra information, revisit the MDA website www.mda.state.mn.us and click on "Grants, Loans, and Financing," orcontact Wayne Monsen, 651-201-6260, or at wayne.monsen@state.mn.us .