Minnesota corn farmers who have a conservation-minded idea they would like to put the test through the Innovation Grant Program have until Dec. 31 to submit a proposal. In its fourth year, the program has invested nearly $400,000 in 40 farmer-led research projects bringing novel solutions to prevent nitrogen loss on the farm.
The 2019 Innovation Grant Program is expanding its focus, now accepting proposals focused on innovative solutions to preventing both nitrogen and phosphorous loss to ground and surface water.
In the first three years of the program, projects have included novel approaches to cover crop systems, state-of-the-art drip irrigation for spoon-feeding nitrogen, evaluating variable-rate nitrogen programs, and more.
Here are a few highlights from over the years:
- Strategy to give cover crops a longer period to flourish before the hard frost
- A state-of-the-art drip irrigation, allowing spoon-feeding of both water and nitrogen
- Novel approach to planting cover crops using an air seeder
- On-farm research looks for perfect timing of cover crop planting
- Evaluating variable-rate nitrogen programs
- Measuring impact of reduced versus traditional tillage
For a detailed report on all completed and ongoing Innovation Grant Projects, click here.
Click here to download the 2019 RFP and apply online before 3 p.m. on Dec. 31.