Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Public Input Opportunity

Oct 24, 2024

By Jennifer Holton

LANSING, Mich. Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring announced a public input opportunity for Michigan's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. To ensure practical program priorities, MDARD is asking for the public s input by emailing their comments to mda-grants@michigan.gov by November 27, 2024. The input received will be considered when developing final program priorities for 2025.

MDARD's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program awards fund projects to enhance the competitiveness of the state s specialty crops which include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

Last year, funding priorities included:

Market enhancement to promote specialty crops
- Market Expansion, Availability, and Access to Specialty Crops
- Farm to Institution
Research and development relevant to specialty crops
- Plant Health and Pest Management
- Farm Sustainability
Training and education addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers
- Enhancing Food Safety
- Environmental Sustainability
- Workforce/Labor

All interested parties may visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants for more information on Michigan s Specialty Crop Block grants. Please submit all public comment to mda-grants@michigan.gov by at 5 p.m. EST on November 27, 2024.

Source : michigan.gov

Video: Residue Management

Residue Management conservation practice manages the amount, orientation, and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year-round while limiting soil-disturbing activities used to grow and harvest crops in systems where the field surface is tilled prior to planting. This video explores how Ryan McKenzie implemented this conservation practice on his farm in Samson, Alabama.

Practice benefits:

• Increases organic matter

• Improves air quality

• Decreases energy costs

• Reduces erosion

• Improves soil health

The Conservation at Work video series was created to increase producer awareness of common conservation practices and was filmed at various locations throughout the country. Because conservation plans are specific to the unique resource needs on each farm and also soil type, weather conditions, etc., these videos were designed to serve as a general guide to the benefits of soil and water conservation and landowners should contact their local USDA office for individual consultation.