The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications to help farmers buy and install equipment to prevent the spread of avian influenza. This grant will reimburse the farmer for up to 80 percent of the cost of the approved virus prevention measures with a maximum award of $10,000. A previous round of Protect Grant funding awarded $500,000 to 54 farmers in 34 counties across the state. The equipment eligible for the funding includes lasers or sound machines to scare birds and wild animals away from the livestock operation, electronic ID systems, air filtration and truck washes. The application deadline is October 31.
