The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food & Forestry (ODAFF) is request applications for its Specialty Crop Block Grant.
Donor Name: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food & Forestry (ODAFF)
State: Oklahoma
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/28/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
ODAFF administers funding received from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) each year. The amount of funding received by ODAFF is based on specialty crop acreage and production value on an annual basis. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets and must provide a benefit to more than just the applicant. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, culinary herbs, tree nuts, Christmas trees, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Projects will be evaluated on how well they enhance the competitiveness of Oklahoma’s specialty crops, soundness or plan, measurable outcomes and return on investment.
Purpose
To be eligible projects must show how they enhance the competitiveness of Oklahoma specialty crops in domestic or foreign markets. The funds can be used for projects involved in promotion, marketing, research, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, increased child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development, good agricultural practices, good handling practices, and good manufacturing practices.
Funding Priorities
Applicants are to develop projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
Major areas of Focus: (Not limited to these issues affecting the specialty cop industry)
- Enhancing food safety
- Good Agricultural Practices
- Good Handling Practices
- Increasing Specialty Crop nutrition education and consumption
- Specialty Crop research, pest and disease control
- Developing or improving marketing channels for specialty crops
- Developing new and improved seed varieties.
Funding Information
SCBG funds may be awarded for projects up to 2 years in duration with funding request ranging from a minimum of $10,000.00 to a maximum of $100,000.00.
Examples of Acceptable Projects
- A State requests funding to contract with a university to conduct research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating, and growing a specialty crop in a particular area, the results of which can be shared with many growers throughout the State.
- A single grower requests funds to demonstrate the viability of organic small fruit production and partners with Cooperative Extension to publicize the working model of diversification to other regional growers.
- A single company requests funds to provide a viable pollination alternative to specialty crop stakeholders in the region, which currently does not have one.
- A single specialty crop organization requests funds to conduct an advertising campaign that will benefit their specialty crop members.
- A single farmer erects high tunnels on their property to extend the growing season of tomatoes and lettuce and conducts a field day and farm tour to encourage other small family farmers to adopt the production methods.
Eligibility Criteria
State, local or, tribal governments, individual producers, producer associations, colleges and universities, community-based organizations, processors and other specialty crop stakeholders are eligible to apply either as single entities or in combined efforts. Proposals that involve collaboration or partnerships between producers, industry groups, academics, or other organizations are encouraged and will be given priority. Under USDA-AMS rules, grants cannot be awarded for projects that only benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single company or individual.
For more information, visit ODAFF.
