Ag News

USDA announces $86.6 million in specialty crop grant funding

On Oct. 13, USDA announced it is awarding $86.6 million in grant funding to support the specialty crop industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The program funds innovative projects designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

States and territories are providing subawards to projects that address the needs of U.S. producers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. The funded projects help businesses throughout the specialty crops distribution chain by enhancing food safety, supporting research, developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops, fighting pests and diseases, educating communities about healthy eating, and making it easier and more affordable to get specialty crops to market.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is investing $86.6 million in approximately 609 state projects across 56 states and territories. Among these is $1.7 million in Georgia for two research projects, nine education and outreach projects, and two marketing projects in support of the state’s pecan, blueberry, pepper, strawberry, peach, apple, Vidalia onion, and citrus growers.

For more information and to view a complete list of funded projects, visit https://gfb.ag/USDASCBGP .

To learn more about AMS’s investments in enhancing and strengthening agricultural systems, visit www.ams.usda.gov/grants .

---

• Categories:

• Tags:

---