PIERRE, S.D. – As local food and cut flower production continues to gain momentum in South Dakota, there are increasing opportunities to access grant funds to enhance specialty crop consumption and purchasing, expand production and market access, bolster food safety knowledge and processes, improve pest and disease control and environmental sustainability, contribute to new seed variety development, and expand specialty crop research and development.
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has announced funds are available to build on the competitiveness of South Dakota specialty crops through the 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
The application deadline is March 24. South Dakota’s state, local, or tribal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, research institutions, institutions of higher education, for-profit businesses, and individual producers may apply.
An informational Q&A session will be held for grant applicants on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT. Please contact Timothy Schoonhoven at [email protected] or 605-773-3623 for attendance information.
“South Dakota is a national leader in agricultural production, and specialty crops play an important role in South Dakota agriculture,” said DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts. “We look forward to supporting our specialty crop industry through this year’s round of innovative proposals.”
Specialty crops are generally defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture.) A full list of eligible and ineligible specialty crops is available on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website.
DANR receives funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and conducts a competitive review process with an independent panel of experts from the South Dakota agricultural community to award Specialty Crop Block Grant projects. Projects may receive funding for up to three years, beginning September 30, 2023, and extending up to September 29, 2026.
The deadline for applications is March 24 at 11:59 pm CDT.
Applications should be submitted via email to [email protected]. The FY23 Request for Proposals and application materials are available at https://danr.sd.gov/Conservation/SpecialtyCropBlockGrant/default.aspx
Information is also available on line at South Dakota Specialty Producers Association.
