The USDA Announces $72.9 Million Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to Enhance Competitiveness

The USDA announced a $72.9 million Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). It will fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through marketing, education and research.

Agricultural agencies or departments of agriculture in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible.

The participating states and territories will provide funding to local projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Those crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops.

Local projects interested in SCBGP funding should apply directly through their state departments of agriculture.

Applications from states and territories must be subbmitted to www.grants.gov by the July 7 deadline.

SCBGP gets funding through the 2018 farm bill. Funds are distributed to the states and territories based on specialty crop acerage and production value.

Read more about the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program here.