Date: Thursday, August 25, 2022
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WASHINGTON, August 25, 2022—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today awarded over $273,000 in Fiscal Year 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to Nevada. This USDA grant will help the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state and support specialty crop growers through marketing, education, and research.
“USDA applauds Nevada’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.”
Through the SCBGP, three projects will be funded. Over $99,000 is being awarded to the Farm2Food Accelerator. This 15-week program equips female specialty crop producers and food entrepreneurs expand production of their food products and enter new regional markets. Additionally, NDA will use funding to survey and collect thrips from targeted specialty crops during the growing season to assess pest specific and beneficial species. Lastly, the University of Nevada, Reno Extension will begin a specialty crop research project to evaluate the marketability of seven diverse varieties of beans. The goal of this project is to enhance specialty crop competitiveness through increased production and consumption by introducing new crops to the community.
“The Nevada Department of Agriculture values the opportunities these federal funds offer to enhance the production and competitiveness of specialty crops and products in the state,” said NDA Director Jennifer Ott. “We have seen how positively these grants have impacted Nevada agriculture and look forward to the research and development these projects will bring to industry.”
The funding to Nevada is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2022 SCBGP funding awarded to 55 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 FY2022 funding is awarded for a three-year period beginning September 30, 2022. Since 2006, USDA has invested more than $953 million through the SCBGP to fund 11,331 projects that have increased the long-term successes of producers and broadened the market for specialty crops in the U.S. and abroad.
More information about these awards is available on this webpage: 2022 SCBGP Awarded Grants (pdf).
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