Central ND News

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is offering grants for K-12 public schools to add hydroponic gardens to their educational programs. The initiative aims to support STEM education and improve student access to local foods.

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring stated, "The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is seeking schools interested in bringing this STEM learning opportunity into their classrooms, which will also help increase access to local foods. Schools will have until May 2026 to grow their hydroponic garden, but we hope the gardens continue to be used by students long after the end of the grant period."

Schools can find more information and apply for the grant on the department’s website at https://www.ndda.nd.gov/gardengrant. Applications must be submitted electronically by Monday, December 8, 2025. Selected schools will be notified by December 15, 2025, and delivery of the gardens is expected in early January 2026.

Hydroponic gardens will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funding is allocated. Approximately 50 hydroponic gardens are expected to be distributed through this program. Schools that received a garden from the department during the 2023-24 school year are not eligible for this round.

For further questions, Local Foods Marketing Specialist Jenna Nieters can be contacted at 701-328-2659 or jnieters@nd.gov.

Funding for these grants comes from the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program.