Oregon Awarded Millions For Specialty Crop Programs

Nearly $2.7 million in federal funding is headed to Oregon agriculture, supporting 13 projects aimed at strengthening the state’s specialty crop industry. The Oregon Department of Agriculture said the Specialty Crop Block Grant funds will help boost the competitiveness of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops and more.

Funded projects this year span a wide range of crops and regions, supporting efforts in market development, research and expanding access to specialty crops. Examples include:

ODA's effort to maintain an Apple Maggot Pest Free Area for Milton-Freewater
Improving Seed Label and Product Compliance in Inter-State Commerce -- Oregon Seed Association
Oregon State University's work breeding hazelnuts for durable resistance to eastern filbert blight
OSU's effort to develop Nitrogen Coefficients for Improved Nutrient Management in Eastern Oregon
Target Marketing and Campaign to Increase Oregon Christmas Tree Sales.

Click Here for a complete list of projects awarded funding.

“These federal dollars are important because they offer dedicated support and local funding for fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops that often do not qualify for standard farm bill commodity programs,” said Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, ODA Director. “In Oregon, these and many other specialty crops play a crucial role in agriculture by creating rural jobs, strengthening farm-market supply chains, and enhancing environmental biodiversity through diversified production and our working lands.”

Oregon ranks among the nation’s top ten specialty crop producers.

Over the past ten years, ODA noted the state has received close to $20 million in funding from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which has paved the way for over 230 projects throughout the state and supported the following priorities:

Local/regional/domestic/international market development, access, and certification
Assisting Producers with Research and Development Relevant to Specialty Crops
Expanding Availability and Access to Specialty Crops
Addressing local, regional and National Challenges Confronting Specialty Crop Producers
For such other purposes determined to be appropriate by the Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, in consultations with specialty crop stakeholders.