Scope & Authority

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) was authorized on December 21, 2004, by Section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004. 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 can also be found in wild populations. Wild plants are not considered specialty crops even though they may be used for the same purpose as cultivated plants. Please note that hemp is not considered a "specialty crop." For a full list of eligible specialty crops, click here.

Current grant opportunities

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) is pleased to announce a new two tier competitive solicitation process to award Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds for projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Kentucky. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Agricultural Market Service (AMS) has allocated these funds to the states and KDA will be administering these funds as competitive grants. The due date for the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant H.R. 133 Funds concept proposal is June 18, 2021.

Future Grant Opportunities

For general information about the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, including eligible specialty crops, please visit the USDA website below in Additional Links.