The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that US$10m is available for competitive grant funding in the 2021 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP).
Grants are awarded to state departments of agriculture to fund collaborative, multi-state projects.
These address issues such as 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.
“This programme is an important resource to strengthen the competitiveness of our nation’s specialty crop industry,” said Bruce Summers, administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which manages SCMP. “By working across state lines, grant recipients can share resources and collaboratively address challenges for specific crops.”
State departments must partner with organisations located in at least two different states to qualify. Partner organisations include specialty crop producer associations and groups, state agencies, tribal governments, universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholder groups and organisations.
Funding will be available for use in the Spring of 2022 with awarded projects with a period of performance of 36 months. Matching funds are not required.
