USDA Announces $100.9 Million in Grant Funding Available for Projects to Support the Specialty Crop Industry

Apr 14, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a total of $100.9 million in grant funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP).

This year, SCBGP has $86.6 million in funding available for innovative projects designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through marketing, education, and research. Funds are distributed to U.S. states and territories based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage and production value. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting SCBGP applications until June 8, 2026.

Eligible SCBGP applicants are agricultural agencies or departments of agriculture in the 50 States, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Participating states and territories will subaward funding to locally led projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, floriculture, and nursery crops. Those interested in applying for a subaward should apply directly through their state departments of agriculture. A list of state contacts is available on the SCBGP website.
USDA also has $14.3 million available through SCMP to fund collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. SCMP awards competitive grants to participating state departments of agriculture as well as local governments, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, or nonprofit organizations residing in nonparticipating states. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications until October 16, 2026.

SCMP supports projects that address food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific common issues, and marketing and promotion for specialty crops including fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture).

State departments must partner with organizations located in at least two different states to qualify. Partner organizations include specialty crop producer associations and groups, state agencies, Tribal governments, universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholder groups and organizations.

Source : usda.gov

Video: Our Own On-Farm Research Is the Best Source - Managing White Mold in Northeast Nebraska

If you assumed Nebraska was too hot and dry for white mold to be a problem in soybeans, think again.

This week we're featuring Galen Samuelson, a farmer and dealer from Wakefield, Nebraska, who knows all too well how devastating white mold can be.

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When asked to write about Samuelson Seed, Galen said the following:

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"In the early 1990s, I started working with a company whose focus was on plant and soil health before those benefits were widely known. I've continued to keep plant and soil health the main focus in our farming operation decisions."