Applications are due January 15, 2021
ST. PAUL — New money is available to Minnesota livestock producers to help prevent wolf attacks. A total of $60,000 will be awarded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) through the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants. Applications are due January 15, 2021.
The grants provide reimbursement for costs of approved practices to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts. Eligible expenses for the grant program will include any or all of the following items:
- Purchase of guard animals
- Veterinary costs for guard animals
- Installation of wolf-barriers which may include pens, fladry and fencing
- Installation of wolf-deterring lights and alarms
- Calving or lambing shelters
- Other measures demonstrated to effectively reduce wolf-livestock conflicts
“Prevention of wolf attacks is key to limiting livestock losses in the state,” said Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Whitney Place. “We thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for this grant, and I encourage Minnesota farmers and ranchers to examine ways they can decrease the chances of wolf attacks and apply for this funding.”
Eligible producers must live within Minnesota’s wolf range, as designated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or on property determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture to be affected by wolf-livestock conflicts. Any animal species produced for profit and documented to have been killed by wolves in Minnesota in the past is eligible. This includes bison, cattle, chicken, deer, donkey, duck, geese, goat, horse, llama, mule, sheep, swine, and turkey.
The funding also requires a 50:50 matching cost-share, meaning half of eligible project costs will be reimbursed by the grant and the remaining 50% will be paid for by the grantee.
The grant application must be emailed or postmarked by 5 p.m. on January 15, 2021. Work for this grant must be done and expenses reported by August 31, 2021. The application and more information can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/wolfgrants
This is the fourth round of funding through the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants. The first two rounds were funded by the Minnesota Legislature in 2017. This round and the previous round have been funded by grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Last modified: 09/24/2020
