WSDA Receives $4.2 Million in Specialty Crop Block Grant Funds

Sep 30, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Washington state over $4 million to support specialty crops in 2025 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Specialty crops are plants people use for food, medicinal purposes, and/or decoration. Many commodities are considered specialty crops. A full list can be found here.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) received $4.2 million in grant funding to support 19 projects in 2025. Washington State University (WSU) will receive several of the grants, including funding that will allow the WSU Bee Program to create an open-access, comprehensive video series about Varroa destructor management, encouraging beekeepers to adopt responsible and effective management methods. Additional funded projects seek to enhance food safety, increase quality of produce and expand markets for Washington’s specialty crops.

“The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is vital for the growth and sustainability of Washington’s diverse agricultural landscape,” said WSDA Director Derek Sandison. “By supporting innovative research, market development and education initiatives, we can enhance the competitiveness of our specialty crops. This year’s awards reflect our commitment to advancing Washington’s agricultural industry and ensuring that our farmers and producers have the resources they need to thrive.”

Source : wa.gov

Video: Seaweed-Based Solutions: Building Natural Performance in Modern Swine Production

In today’s pork industry, producers are under increasing pressure to do more with fewer inputs—while maintaining performance, improving animal health, and meeting sustainability expectations.

we sit down with Sylvain David and Scott Preston from Olmix to explore how seaweed-based solutions are emerging as a foundational tool in modern swine nutrition.

Rather than acting as simple alternatives, these solutions are designed to support gut health, immune resilience, and overall system consistency—especially during key stress periods like weaning, feed transitions, and disease challenges.

The conversation dives into:

• What seaweed-based solutions actually are and how they work

• Why consistency and standardization matter in “natural” products

• How gut health connects to immune function and performance

• Where producers are seeing real-world impact today

• The role of natural solutions in the future of sustainable pork production