By Andi Anderson
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is inviting project proposals from Indiana's specialty crop sector to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlights the significance of Indiana's diverse specialty crop sector and anticipates supporting impactful projects through this funding opportunity.
USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Details:
This program annually provides federal funding to state agriculture departments, with Indiana allocating $471,000.00 for selected projects this year.
Eligible projects should enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, encompassing fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops.
Project Eligibility Criteria:
- Projects should not benefit a specific commercial product or provide exclusive profits to a single entity.
- Each project must align with at least one USDA performance measure demonstrating its impact on enhancing specialty crop competitiveness.
Preferred Project Objectives:
- Increasing consumption and consumer purchasing.
- Expanding access and distribution channels.
- Enhancing food safety knowledge and processing.
- Developing new seed varieties.
- Improving environmental sustainability.
Application Details:
- Applications open on Feb. 22, 2024, and must be submitted online through ISDA's Grants Management System by 12:00 p.m. ET on March 22, 2024.
- ISDA and USDA encourage projects benefiting smaller farms, new farmers, underserved producers, veterans, and underserved communities.
Find application resources on ISDA’s Grants and Funding Opportunities website here. For additional details, click here, and access the list of eligible specialty crops here.
Photo Credit: indiana-state-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Indiana, Crops, Government & Policy