MDARD Announces 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Recipients

Sep 28, 2023

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced today the Michigan recipients of the U.S. Department of Agriculture s (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

"Michigan is better when there's increased diversity within our food and agricultural sector, more specialty crops, and more value per acre for our farmers," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "USDA's funding helps Michigan farmers to keep their competitive edge, advance research, and create new economic opportunities within the specialty crop sector especially as the agricultural community continues to be deeply impacted by the effects of climate change. We greatly appreciate USDA's and Senator Stabenow's ongoing support of Michigan s farming families and businesses."

The grants, with a maximum award of $125,000 each, enhance the competitiveness of the state's specialty crops. Below is the list of grantees:

MBG Marketing: $97,878 Demand for Blueberries: Understanding Consumers Preferences to Increase Michigan Growers Market Competitiveness
Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board: $100,000 Decision Support to Improve Asparagus Yield, Quality, and Industry Competitiveness Under Weather Extremes
Michigan Tree Fruit Commission: $98,237 Improving Irrigation and Fertilizer Management in New and Established High-Density Apple Orchards
Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association: $100,000 Time for Alternatives to Glyphosate: Post- and Pre- Herbicide Combos
Michigan Blueberry Commission: $99,000 Advancing Etiology, Detection, and Management of Michigan Blueberry Viruses
Michigan Celery Research, Inc.: $97,451 A New Leaf Disease and a Seedling Root Rot Require Solutions for Celery Growers
Michigan Bean Commission: $100,000 Sustainable Dry Bean Production Systems: Improving Production for an Evolving Market Place
Michigan Vegetable Council: $98,084 Can New Cultivars be the Answer to Rhizomania, the New Table Beet Disease.
Michigan Cherry Committee: $125,000 Discovering and Targeting Key Buyers for Michigan Sweet and Tart Cherries
Michigan Onion Committee: $98,780 Influence of Tip/Leaf Burn and New Fungicides on Onion Stemphylium Leaf Blight
Hop Growers of Michigan: $105,549 Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Michigan Hop Industry
Michigan State Horticultural Society: $100,000 Use of Bio Stimulants to Improve Fresh Market Blueberry Quality and Value
Michigan Apple Committee: $125,000 - #1 Social Media Marketing to Engage Target Audience and Enhance Competitiveness of Michigan Apples
Michigan Carrot Committee: $100,000 Determining Action Thresholds and Management Strategies for Two Root Lesion Nematode Pests of Michigan Carrot Production
Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association: $125,000 Expanding Michigan Wine Demand Across the U.S. Utilizing Consumer and Industry Wine Education
Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo: $80,000 Advancing Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Grower Knowledge and Efficiency Through the Great Lakes Expo
Kid's Food Basket: $125,000 Market and Promote the Expansion of Specialty Crops to Enhance Increased Consumption in West Michigan
Michigan Christmas Tree Association: $89,081 Improving Establishment of Christmas Tree Plantations Through Research and Education
Michigan Potato Industry Commission: $93,795.50 Educating Food Insecure and Non-English-Speaking Audiences on Michigan Potatoes as a Healthy and Affordable Option
MDARD's International Marketing Program: $158,395 International and Domestic Promotion of Michigan Specialty Crops

Source : michigan.gov

Video: Farm Health Guardian | Digital Biosecurity in Real Time

Disease risk, biosecurity, and real-time monitoring continue to be major topics across the pork industry. In this episode of Swine Web Industry Perspectives, presented by Farm Health Guardian, we discuss how digital biosecurity and real-time data are changing the way producers think about herd protection, people movement, and operational decision-making.

The conversation explores:

disease risk in modern pork production,

the impact of people movement on biosecurity,

the importance of real-time monitoring,

digital biosecurity technology,

and how Farm Health Guardian developed tools designed to support modern swine operations.

As the industry continues focusing on prevention, preparedness, and operational efficiency, connected technologies and actionable data are becoming increasingly important parts of modern herd health management.