Boise, Idaho - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) this week awarded over $2 million in Fiscal Year 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to Idaho.

With this grant, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) will fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop products and create new market opportunities for the state’s specialty crop producers.

“We are happy to once again be partnered with Idaho on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The innovative projects funded through this program will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops and support the region’s specialty crop growers to help ensure their long-term success.”

Through the SCBGP, the ISDA will fund 17 projects. Among ISDA’s projects, is funding to the College of Southern Idaho to create a trellised apple orchard and irrigation system to provide hands-on education to students and develop a pipeline of skilled workers who can contribute to the implementation of innovative practices. Additional funded projects focus in areas such as disease management, domestic and international marketing and digital innovation.

“We are pleased to provide this opportunity in collaboration with USDA for organizations of all sizes to enhance the competitiveness of Idaho-grown crops,” said ISDA Director Chanel Tewalt. “This year’s Specialty Crop Block Grant funding will address several needs for Idaho’s specialty crops including innovative research, market improvement, educational initiatives and more.”

FY 2024 SCBGP Idaho recipients include:

• College of Southern Idaho
• Idaho Bean Commission
• Idaho Apple Commission
• Idaho Cherry Commission
• Idaho Mint Growers Association
• Idaho Eastern-Oregon Onion Committee
• Idaho Hop Grower’s Commission
• Idaho Potato Commission
• ISDA Hops Program
• ISDA Idaho Preferred Program
• Idaho Wine Commission
• Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association
• Sunnyslope Wine Trail
• Northwest Nazarene University
• University of Idaho

The funding to Idaho is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2024 SCBGP funding awarded to 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia.  The funding supports farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA’s support will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production, expand markets, and ensure an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops is available to all Americans.

The funding for the SCBGP grants is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and FY2024 funding is awarded for a three-year period beginning Sept. 30, 2024. Since 2006, USDA has invested over $1 billion through the SCBGP to fund nearly 12,000 projects that have increased the long-term successes of producers and enhanced marketing opportunities for U.S. specialty crops products.

More information about these awards is available here.

 

Contact:

Sydney Kennedy

Public Information Officer

(208) 332-8507

sydney.kennedy@isda.idaho.gov