Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill 2026
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you run a state department of agriculture or are a researcher/vendor working with one, this is the primary federal mechanism to fund specialty crop competitiveness projects.
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What this is
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) distributes federal funding directly to state agriculture departments to fund projects that boost specialty crop competitiveness. Eligible activities include marketing and promotion, producer research and development, expanding crop availability and access, and solving regional or national challenges facing specialty crop producers. This is a state-level, government-to-government grant program, not a direct funding vehicle for private companies or individuals, though states may subcontract projects to researchers or private entities.
Who can apply
Only state departments of agriculture (and equivalent agencies in U.S. territories and the District of Columbia) are eligible applicants. Solo founders, startups, and private companies cannot apply directly; only state government entities qualify.
Eligible applicant types
- State governments
Full description — from the agency
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to award grants to eligible State departments of agriculture to carry out projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The SCBGP assists State departments of agriculture in the 50 States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by— (1) leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; (2) assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops; (3) expanding availability and access to specialty crops; (4) addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers; and (5) for such other purposes determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with specialty crop stakeholders and relevant State departments of agriculture. Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). A State department of agriculture is the agency, commission, or department of a State government responsible for agriculture within the State.
Topics: specialty crops · agricultural marketing · state grants · farm bill · competitive grants
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.