USDA Awards Grants For Specialty Crops

Last week, the USDA announced grant awards for two programs focused on the specialty crop industry.

“USDA is announcing $82.3 million in grants to enhance specialty crop competitiveness overall, and that is through two different programs," noted the USDA's Jenny Moffitt.  "One is through the specialty Crop Block Grant Program and then the second is through the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program.” 

Moffitt, the Under Secretary for Marketing and regulatory programs, said while these are two separate programs, they are both funded via the Farm Bill.

“The specialty Crop Block Grant Program has $72.9 million for partnering with 54 States and territories and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program is a competitive program where states come together to address regional and national specialty crop issues, things like food safety or plant pests and disease research projects that are addressing a common issue. For marketing and promotion or pest diseases in a region or across the country based on a crops need.”

Click on the following links to learn more about the Crop Block Grant Program, or the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program. 

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com