The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) was authorized on December 21, 2004, by Section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (pdf file). The Act authorized the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants to states to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. In 2008, Section 10109 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill) amended the Act, which established the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB). The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s division of Value-Added Plant Production administers these grant funds which are based on the state’s value of specialty crop production.

Definition of Specialty Crops

Specialty crops are defined in law as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Specialty crops are plants that are intensively cultivated. There are many plants that are specialty crops when cultivated, but are also collected from wild populations. Wild plants are not considered specialty crops even though they may be used for the same purpose as cultivated plants. A complete listing can be found on the USDA/AMS website.

Current Grant Opportunities (As of 04/08/2010)

Healthy Living Through Food Forums & Programming: $40,000
(Click for Application pdf).  Due July 6

Past Grant Opportunities

Specialty Crop Block Grant FY 2010 (Click for Application pdf )
Please check here for 2010 USDA/AMS Eligibility Requirements

Specialty Crop Block Grant 09 Farm Bill
In fall 2009, KDA was awarded grant funding for three (3) competitive programs in the SCBGP 09 FB allocation.

1. Specialty Crop Recipe Development with Nutritional Research Component: $40,000
2. Healthy Living Through Food Forums & Programming: $40,000
3. Organic Specialty Crop Pest Management Research: $80,000

Please check here for 2009 USDA/AMS Eligibility Requirements. PLEASE NOTE: “Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.”