USDA Awards $86.6 Million for 609 Specialty Crop Projects

The United States Department of Agriculture is awarding $86.6 million in grant funding to support 609 specialty crop projects across 56 states and territories. Administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the funding targets the production of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops to improve food safety, combat pests, and reduce transportation costs.

Major allocations include over $4.3 million for Florida, $2.64 million for Michigan, and over $2 million for Texas, with additional funding for Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated the investment reflects the Trump administration's commitment to ensuring specialty crop businesses remain competitive globally while strengthening rural communities.

As part of this federal initiative, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship awarded 13 grants totaling $435,734.12 to local growers. These state-level projects include virus surveys for apple trees and fermentation research at Iowa State University, weed suppression testing by Practical Farmers of Iowa, and pollinator education from the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig noted that these investments help producers diversify and tap into new markets to strengthen the state's agriculture-based economy.