The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) encourages specialty crop-related entities and farmers’ markets throughout the state to take advantage of federal funds aimed at supporting their efforts and organizations in 2012 and 2013.


Funding requests under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) are available in the range of $2,000 - $50,000 for activities and practices affecting the specialty crop industry including:
• increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption
• improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems
• helping entities establish good agricultural, handling and manufacturing practices
• investing in research such as enhancing food safety, developing new and improved seed varieties & specialty crops, pest and disease control and sustainability
• market promotion of qualified Indiana food & agricultural products

Applications must be submitted via email to ISDA by June 1st, 2012. Commissions, public entities, associations, and/or nonprofit organizations that represent specialty crops as defined by USDA in Indiana agriculture are eligible to apply.

Funding requests under the Farmers’ Market Cost-Share Reimbursement Program are available for up to $500 per organization for advertising, displays and promotional materials used to increase consumer awareness and overall appeal of Indiana farmers’ markets and enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Farmers’ Market Directors or Market Masters with an established Farmers’ Market listed on ISDA’s website are eligible to apply. Funds will be paid to qualifying entities on a first come-first served basis.

Applications for both programs can be found on the ISDA Web site under Grants and Funding Opportunities.

USDA is offering the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) grant which was established to solve critical industry issues through research and extension activities. SCRI will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary; and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas: research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics; efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators; efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term; new innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops. Applications are due January 31, 2012. Prospective applicants are asked to email a notification of intent to submit an application by close of business on November 25, 2011



Eligible Applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, and Small businesses.

More information is available here. 

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is offering a free interactive webinar for those interested in learning more about how to apply for Specialty Crop Block Grants in their state.  This webinar will share  information on how you can use these grant funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.  Many projects funded in the past by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program focus on marketing and promotion, education, production, research, food safety, and pest and plant health.

Specialty crop project applications must be submitted to your State Department of Agriculture for funding consideration. State Departments of Agriculture are encouraged to partner with specialty crop stakeholders, including socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers.

There will be a live question and answer session following the formal webinar presentation. Attendees of previous webinar sessions have included growers, processors, packers and distributors of all sized operations and others along the produce supply chain, as well as representatives from academia and government.

Details regarding the time and date of the webinar are below.

Date: Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011

Subject: USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Don’t miss this informative webinar. Visit http://bit.ly/v21Rfi to register before the Dec. 9, 2011 deadline.

Or, for more information about the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program visit USDA's website at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp

USDA is offering the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) as a grant program to fund specialty crop industry issues through research and extension activities. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas: research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics; efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators; efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term; new innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops.

Elligible applicants include: national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State agricultural experiment stations, Cooperative Extension Services, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities.

Applications are due: January 31, 2012, but a letter of intent is requestd by November 25, 2011.  For more detailed information please visit: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/specialty_crop.html 

Are you a producer who sells produce at a Farmers' Market? Then you should get your Market Master to sign up for ISDA's Farmers' Market Cost Share Program. This program will reimburse your market 50% of the cost of advertising and promotional expenses up to $500.

To qualify for this funding your market needs to be listed in ISDA's Online AgriTourism & Farmers' Market Directory and any icons or images in your promotional and advertising pieces must be of specialty crops (i.e. fruits and vegetables) Simply fill out the application, and send ISDA copy's of your receipts along with examples of what your marketing items are (brochures, magnets, signs, etc.).

Funds for this program are provided through a previous years USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant which is to be used to solely enhance the competitiveness of Specialty Crops.  Applications are funded on a first come first served basis, so please apply soon!

It is once again time for another round of USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant. This grant is to to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” Through this program each state is allocated funding to award to organizations and associations that focus on specialty crops.


In Indiana grants are available in the range of $2,000 - $50,000 for activities and practices affecting the specialty crop industry including:
• increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption
• improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems
• helping entities establish good agricultural, handling and manufacturing practices
investing in research such as enhancing food safety, developing new and improved seed varieties &      specialty crops, pest and disease control and sustainability
• market promotion of qualified Indiana food & agricultural products

Applications must be submitted via email to ISDA by June 17, 2011. Commissions, public entities, associations, and/or nonprofit organizations that represent specialty crops as defined by USDA in Indiana agriculture are eligible to apply. A Guidance Document, Application and Scoresheet can be found on ISDA's website here.

Please note; a new change in the application process for this year is that all applicants must have a DUNS number. This is a federal requirement and can take a couple of weeks to obtain, so please plan accordingly.

FREE & Interactive Webinar for USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant


Thursday, December 16, 2 p.m. ET

This is a unique opportunity for members of the Specialty Crop Industry to take advantage of.  On Thursday, Deceber 16th, you can find out what the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is and how you can apply for grant funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. For additional information please view the webinar’s invitation.

Program Description:  The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”

The focus of the webinar will be to generate interest in the program. The webinar will cover eligible projects, some of the federal restrictions and limitations on grant funds, how to apply through your local state department of agriculture, very general grant application information, and success stories.


The webinar will be recorded and afterwards posted on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for viewing at any time.

Sunday, August 29th marks the inaugural Dig-IN event.  From noon till 6 pm at Military Park on the White River State Park grounds cconsumers will have an opportunity to experience the taste of Indiana grown products.  This event will showcase high quality, locally produced Indiana foods and remind consumers what a bounty Indiana farmers/producers have to offer.   

Dig-IN will feature many of the state's best chefs preparing unique dishes from these locally grown foods and attendees will be able to sample them.  Speakers will be on had to provide educational information on an array of food and food related topics.  Also on hand to sample will be Indiana made wines and beers, along with music by Jascha, Kate LaMont and Jookabox.

This event will be a feast for the senses and show just how great Indiana agriculture taste!

For more information visit Dig-IN's website http://www.digindiana.org/

One of the things I enjoy about this time of year is going to local Farmers’ Markets. I enjoy seeing all the fresh produce and the farmers that grow it. Whatever I don’t grow in my own garden I try to pick up at the local Farmers’ Market. If you are searching for a Farmers’ Market in your area you should check out ISDA’s On-line Agritourism Directory. This directory lists local wineries and u-pick stands along with Farmers’ Markets by.

That all being said I wanted to remind everyone that ISDA has two grant programs available that can directly assist Farmers’ Markets and Producers of Specialty Crops.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) awards funds to organizations that will “solely” enhance the Specialty Crop Industry. Applications are due June 25th, 2010. For more information and details regarding this program please check out one of my previous posts about the SCBG

Secondly, ISDA offers the Farmers’ Market Cost Share Program. This program reimburses Farmers Markets for the cost of their advertising and promotional expenses up to $500.  This program runs through August 31st, 2010, however, funds are awarded on a first come first serve basis. More information and details regarding this program can be found in a previous blog post about the Farmers' Market Cost Share Program.

You can also check out ISDA's grant website for applicaitons for both of these programs plus a list of other various agriculture grants. 

Last week I announced the opening of the Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) but this week I again wanted to spend some time talking about various projects and ideas that could be applicable for funding. Since one of the biggest criteria for the grant is the Specialty Crop itself those crops that qualify are: Algae, Chickpeas, Christmas trees, Cocoa, Coffee, Cut flowers, Dry edible beans, Dry peas, Foliage, Fruit grapes for wine, Garlic, Ginger root, Ginseng, Herbs, Honey, Hops, Kava, Lavender, Lentils, Maple syrup, Mushrooms, Organic fruits and vegetables, Peppermint, Potatoes, Seaweed, Spearmint, Sweet Corn, Vanilla, Vegetable seeds, Commonly recognized fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

If you grow any of these crops perhaps you could consider partnering with others who do the same and develop some ways to work together to market, advertise and promote your crop. Perhaps you could work together to find more efficient ways to distribute your crop. Perhaps, you could partner with a university and offer to let them do research on your crop or production practices or even some sort of nutritional study. Perhaps there is some new technology or equipment that would enhance food safety or disease control or longevity of the product.

Also, consider the trends of more people wanting to buy fresh, locally grown produce or organic produce and determine if there is a way to draw more consumer awareness to your product. Also, think of Agri-tourism and the interest of consumers to stop and cut a Christmas tree, pick apples, sample wine or attend an event.

Grants can range from $2,000-$30,000 so you can think big or think small. The application is somewhat simple to fill out and just asks for a narrative about your goals, expected outcomes and be able to justify your expenses. I would strongly encourage you to take advantage of this unique funding opportunity. Look for other organizations, producers or academia to partner with. You have a good 4 months until the application is due so that leaves plenty of time for brainstorming. Remember to check out ISDA’s website http://www.in.gov/isda/2522.htm for the SCBG program guidance, application and score sheet. And as always if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment as your thoughts may spur others on as well.

After months of anticipation and planning the big day has finally arrived!!! That’s right. USDA has announced and opened the application period for the next round of the Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Program. Each State Department of Agriculture is eligible to receive an allocation of the $55 million set aside under Section 10109 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. Allocations are determined by the amount of Specialty Crop Production that occurs in the state. Departments of Agriculture are the only applicants but they are strongly encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, and community-based organizations in the development of applications that “solely” enhance the Specialty Crop Industry.

The State of Indiana will have $397,831.21 available for projects enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops through the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry: increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing “Good Agricultural Practices:, “Good Handling Practices”, “Good Manufacturing Practices”, investing in specialty crop research, including organic research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes; enhancing food safety; developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; pest and disease control; and sustainability. Other options are market promotion; for domestic or international promotion of qualified Indiana food and agricultural products, or distribution to mitigate trade barriers that prevent or slow entry of qualified Indiana food and agricultural products into foreign markets.

ISDA would like to encourage all Specialty Crop organizations and partners to consider applying for funding this year. The applications are due June 25th, 2010 and are considered relatively easy to fill out. Check out ISDA’s website for the SCBG program guidance, application and score sheet. http://www.in.gov/isda/2522.htm

I received a calendar this year for Christmas, and while the last days of the 2009 linger I am already planning ahead for grant opportunities in the coming new year.

What federal funds can we expect? Well, we know all the funding outlined in the farm bill will cover another round of the Specialty Crop Block Grant. That is a great program that specifically targets the fruit and vegetable commodities. Also the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program will be out in the spring and give markets a chance to apply directly to USDA for funding.

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is now open year round for all your bio-energy and energy efficiency needs. I anticipate more funding this coming year for biomass and solar as well.

For the folks in conservation there should be another round of Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education (SARE). As well as the Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) through NRCS which is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development of innovative conservation technologies; funds are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations.

May 2010 bring you many new resources, opportunities and….. grants!!!!!

USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative is a grant opportunity for research projects that focus on plant breeding, genetics, threats from pests and diseases; including pollinators; efforts to improve production, new technology, and food safety hazards in production and processing.
USDA has $47.3 million to award projects that address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops; including floriculture.

Eligible Applicants include; colleges and universities, research institutions, private organizations or corporations, state agricultural experiment stations, individuals or groups consisting of 2 or more of the above mentioned. Applications are due January 14, 2010 and please note there is a matching requirement. More information can be found at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/specialty_crop.html

Tip: Priority is given to proposals that are multi state and communicate results to producers and the public. For your proposal think about whom you could partner with and ways to perform outreach to others.

This grant should not be confused with USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant which is available for state departments of agriculture to apply for to carry out more marketing, distribution and nutrition type grants with not-for-profits. If you have any questions regarding either of these grants please feel free to post a comment below as I would welcome discussion on this blog.

Also, always remember to check out ISDA’s website for all the latest ag related grants http://www.in.gov/isda/2522.htm