Down Payment Assistance Grant

About this program

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture offers up to $20,000 through its Down Payment Assistance Grant to help qualified farmers purchase their first farm or other agricultural real estate in Minnesota. Applications are accepted July 6–August 31, 2026, with awards determined through a random lottery and priority for lower-sales applicants and producers of eligible specialty crops. Applicants must be Minnesota residents who have never owned a farm, demonstrate relevant farming knowledge, earn under $250,000 in gross agricultural sales, and provide most of the farm’s labor and management. Recipients must commercially farm the property for at least five years, and the purchase must close after grant approval.