Rapid Agricultural Response Fund (RARF)

About this program

The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) at the University of Minnesota administers the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund (RARF), a biennial competitive fund that provides quick-turn research support to address emergent threats to Minnesota’s agricultural and natural-resource sectors (e.g., pests, diseases, water quality, livestock biosecurity). RARF has historically supported projects such as responses to soybean gall midge, HPAI, chronic wasting disease, and invasive insects and recently awarded roughly $2 million to 10 FY26/27 projects. Eligibility is limited to University of Minnesota researchers and Extension educators/specialists (including faculty in CFANS, College of Veterinary Medicine, CEHD, and related units), and applicants must submit proposals and follow application procedures via the MAES intranet focused on state-relevant, time-sensitive problems.