Minnesota State Wire

Applications are now open for grants from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) aimed at boosting the competitiveness of both domestic and international markets for specialty crops grown in Minnesota.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is designed to fund projects that focus on marketing and promoting specialty crops, supporting research and development related to these crops, expanding their availability and access, and addressing challenges faced by producers. The MDA expects to award approximately $1.25 million through a competitive review process. The maximum grant award is set at $125,000, while the minimum is $25,000. There is no requirement for matching funds.

Eligible applicants include producer organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, tribal organizations, universities, and other entities involved in Minnesota agriculture. Individual producers or commercial businesses can also apply if their projects provide value to the broader specialty crop industry and include a plan for sharing project results widely.

Funding for the SCBGP comes annually from a block grant provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), under the 2018 Farm Bill's legislative authority. According to USDA definitions, specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, floriculture products, and processed goods with at least 50% specialty crop content by weight.

Interested parties must submit applications for 2025 SCBGP funds by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Detailed program information and application guidelines are available on the MDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program web page.

A note accompanying this announcement warns that "due to recent Executive Orders," federal funding might be reduced or canceled. It also clarifies that publishing this request for proposals does not obligate the state to award any federal funds.