Specialty Crop Block Grant

Idaho Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The 2026 Farm Bill applications are OPEN.  

Specialty crop grant funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and is allocated to the state to be awarded through a competitive grant process. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) conducts an annual competitive solicitation process to award Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds to projects that enhance the competitiveness of Idaho specialty crops.

Eligibility Criteria

Projects must enhance the competitiveness of Idaho grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets and must provide a benefit to more than a single organization, institution, or individual. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. For a list of eligible and ineligible specialty crops, see Specialty Crop Definition.

Funds are available to interested local, state, and federal government agencies, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and universities.

Projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops 
• Pest and disease control 
• Sustainability 
• Enhancing food safety 
• Developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops 
• Improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems 
• Developing and enhancing domestic and international markets
• Expanding availability and access to specialty crops
• Enhancing local food systems
• Improving production practices through innovative technologies
• Improving agricultural workforce
• Improving the capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing good agricultural, handling, or manufacturing practices.
• Investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes.