Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Funding Awarded to Louisiana Announced by USDA
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Funding Awarded to Louisiana Announced by USDA
Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) announced on August 25, 2022, that the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has granted Louisiana approximately $394,000 in Fiscal Year 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds. This USDA grant will assist the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in funding projects that will improve the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state and assist specialty crop growers through marketing, education, and research.
“USDA applauds Louisiana’s continued commitment to supporting our nation’s producers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The projects funded will foster innovative research and new market opportunities within the specialty crop sector, while furthering USDA’s goals of creating a more fair and equitable food system and supporting local and regional producers.”
“Louisiana has one of the most unique and distinctive food cultures in the country, and our specialty crops play an important role in our agricultural landscape. The Specialty Crop Block Grant funds are a great tool to boost the competitiveness of Louisiana specialty crops through marketing and promotion, research and development, expanding availability and access, and addressing challenges confronting our producers,” remarked the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM. “Through this project, we aim to develop economic opportunities for our specialty crops while improving food access through the state. Projects promoting food safety, extending produce shelf life, marketing specialty crops, and creating apprenticeships are in the works. These projects will lead to overall success for Louisiana specialty crop farmers, now and in the future.”
Louisiana received $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2022 SCBGP funds, which were allocated to 55 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. SCBGP funding assists farmers who develop specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. The USDA’s assistance will boost specialty crop production and markets in the United States, assuring a plentiful, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops that are essential to the health and well-being of all Americans.
The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes financing for SCBGP grants, and FY2022 funding is provided for a three-year period commencing September 30, 2022. Since 2006, USDA has committed more than $953 million in the SCBGP to fund 11,331 initiatives that have boosted growers’ long-term success and widened the market for specialty crops in the United States and around the world.
More information about these grants can be found by following this link.
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