The Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is inviting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for fiscal year 2025, with a total funding amount of approximately $72.9 million available to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Eligible applicants include state departments of agriculture, which can apply for base grants and additional funds based on specialty crop cash receipts, focusing on projects that promote food safety, pest control, and research, while prioritizing collaborative efforts over individual organizational benefits. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by July 7, 2025, and successful applicants will be required to comply with federal guidelines and report on project progress. For further inquiries, applicants can contact the program at SCBlockGrants@usda.gov.

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The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a federal initiative by the USDA aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops through grant funding for eligible state departments of agriculture. For fiscal year 2025, approximately $72.9 million is available, with applications due by July 7, 2025. This year's program has seen notable changes, such as the reorganization of the request for applications and the removal of language emphasizing support for underserved farmers.

Applicant states are eligible for a base grant plus additional funds based on specialty crop cash receipts. The program encourages multi-state projects and prioritizes projects enhancing food safety, pest control, and research on specialty crops, while excluding funding for projects solely benefitting individual organizations.

The application process requires registered entities to submit applications electronically through Grants.gov, including detailed project narratives and budget plans. Successful applicants must comply with federal guidelines, report on project progress, and acknowledge USDA support in communications. The program aims to foster collaborative projects that collectively benefit the specialty crop industry, ensuring sustainable agriculture practices across the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to award grants to eligible State departments of agriculture to carry out projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The SCBGP assists State departments of agriculture in the 50 States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by&#8212; (1) leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; (2) assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops; (3) expanding availability and access to specialty crops; (4) addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers; and (5) for such other purposes determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with specialty crop stakeholders and relevant State departments of agriculture. Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). A State department of agriculture is the agency, commission, or department of a State government responsible for agriculture within the State.

Agricultural Marketing Service&lt;br/&gt;SCBlockGrants@usda.gov

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