Specialty Crop Block Grants Program (SCBGP)
Reauthorized and continued. Block grants flow to state departments of agriculture, which sub-grant to specialty crop industries within their state. One of the most flexible federal funding streams for specialty crops.
What it does
The Specialty Crop Block Grants Program (SCBGP) provides block grants to state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. State departments of agriculture then sub-grant funds to specialty crop industries within their state.
Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.
State departments of agriculture have wide discretion in how they allocate sub-grants, typically funding:
- Research projects
- Marketing campaigns
- Pest and disease management
- Trade and export development
- Food safety initiatives
- Specialty crop competitiveness studies
What changed in the Farm Bill 2.0
Reauthorized through FY2031
Standard farm bill cycle reauthorization at continued funding levels.
Coordination with new programs
The Farm Bill 2.0 adds new specialty crop programs that coordinate with SCBGP:
- Specialty Crop Research ($30M, Title VII)
- Specialty Crop Automation Research ($20M, Title VII)
- Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance Framework (Title I)
- TASC (Title III, doubled)
States can now align SCBGP sub-grants with these federal priorities for greater impact.
How states implement SCBGP
Each state has different SCBGP processes. Generally:
- State department of agriculture publishes annual call for proposals
- Specialty crop organizations submit grant applications
- State department selects projects based on criteria
- Projects implemented over 3-year typical period
- Annual reporting to USDA
To find your state’s SCBGP information: search “[state name] specialty crop block grant program.”
Who it matters for
- Specialty crop growers and industry organizations: eventual sub-grant recipients
- State departments of agriculture: pass-through grant administrators
- Land-grant universities: frequent SCBGP-funded research partners
- Specialty crop research programs
- Consumer-facing marketing campaigns for specialty crops