WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2024—The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced over $3.3 million in funding awarded to North Dakota through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Through this program, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture will fund projects that strengthen North Dakota’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research.
“We are happy to once again be partnered with North Dakota on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The innovative projects funded through this program will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops and support the region’s specialty crop growers to help ensure their long-term success.”
Through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture will fund 21 projects. Among the department’s projects is funding to promote specialty crops through a farmers market video campaign and student specialty crop recipe kits. Additional funded projects focus on areas such as virus detection, addressing root rot, and seed quality analysis.
The funding to North Dakota is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2024 funding awarded to 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The funding supports farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA’s support will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production, expand markets, and ensure an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops is available to all Americans.
View more information on the 2024 SCBGP Awarded Grants (pdf).
