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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced it is offering grants of up to $500,000 to help livestock producers in the state prevent the spread of bird flu on their farms.

Farmers can request between $500 and $10,000 per farming operation through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program.

The state requires grant funds to be used on projects meant to prevent the transmission of avian influenza. Examples include: isolation/quarantine pens, air filtration systems, truck washes, pest control, biosecurity signs, and sound machines (to scare wild species away from poultry operations).

To apply for the Protect Grant, farmers must produce and sell at least $1,000 of livestock products annually and be the principal operator of the farm.

If offered a grant, ranchers must provide a 20% cash match. The state notes that qualified livestock producers can use their related time and labor costs to reduce the match by up to $2,000.

The recent bird flu outbreak was first identified in 2022 and has rapidly spread across Minnesota since then. In October, the disease affected over 600,000 poultry in the state, an increase in the number of affected flocks compared to the year before.

The Department of Agriculture expects to award 50 to 60 grants next year. The application period runs until 4 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2026.