Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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WASHINGTON, August 23, 2023—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today awarded over $378,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to South Dakota. With this grant, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) will fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop products and create new market opportunities for the state’s specialty crop producers.
“With this year’s Specialty Crop Block Grant funding, South Dakota is investing in innovative projects that will help address the needs of specialty crop producers within the region,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The funded projects will also further USDA’s efforts to ensure U.S. specialty crop products remain competitive in markets across the nation and abroad.”
Through the SCBGP, the South Dakota DANR will fund six projects. Among DANR’s projects is the Dakota Fresh Food Hub’s plan to increase community awareness and consumption of specialty crops by leveraging a food hub Farm Share model to expand retail offerings from regional specialty crop producers. Additional funded projects focus in areas such as new lentil and chickpea food product development to increase sustainable pulse crop demand, a study of cucurbit diseases to identify management solutions, creation of K-12 curriculum on the South Dakota honey production and pollinator industry, opening producer access to institutional markets through wholesale market facilitation, and mushroom production methods and byproduct utilization demonstration.
“South Dakota’s agriculture producers are constantly innovating and improving the products they grow and market,” said DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts. “This year’s projects will help our producers meet consumer demand and boost consumer access through research, education, product development, and enhanced production methods. We appreciate USDA’s continued support through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program.”
The funding to South Dakota is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2023 SCBGP funding awarded to 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The SCBGP funding supports farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA’s support will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets, ensuring an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops, which are vital to the health and well-being of all Americans.
The funding for the SCBGP grants is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and FY2023 funding is awarded for a three-year period beginning Sept. 30, 2023. Since 2006, USDA has invested over $1 billion through the SCBGP to fund nearly 12,000 projects that have increased the long-term successes of producers and enhanced marketing opportunities for U.S. specialty crops products.
More information about these awards is available on this webpage: 2023 SCBGP Awarded Grants (pdf).
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