The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced the 2025 Autonomous Agriculture Grant Program, a competitive funding opportunity offering up to $7.5 million to support transformative projects that advance autonomous agriculture in the state.
The program is designed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation agricultural technologies, infrastructure, and workforce solutions. Funding may be awarded as a single grant or divided among multiple recipients. Eligible projects include developing autonomous agriculture proving grounds, commercializing ag-tech innovations, implementing workforce training programs, researching and deploying unmanned systems and precision equipment, and land acquisition to support autonomous agriculture initiatives.
Applicants must be nonprofits, public-private partnerships, or industry consortia with a permanent presence in North Dakota. Proposals will be evaluated on their potential to accelerate automation, strengthen the agricultural workforce, drive commercialization, and deliver measurable economic impact in rural communities.
A selection committee composed of state leaders and industry representatives will review submissions using a 100-point scoring system. A new Q&A section is available to provide guidance on application requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures.
The program aims to position North Dakota as a national leader in agricultural innovation while fostering collaboration between researchers, technology developers, and producers.
By: DNU staff