The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry (ODAFF) is announcing their solicitation process to award Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) for proposals that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Oklahoma.
Donor Name: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food & Forestry (ODAFF)
State: Oklahoma
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/24/2023
Size of the Grant: $100,000.00
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
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.
Projects may include but are not limited to:
- Pest and disease control
- Enhancing food safety
- Developing new and improved seed varieties
- Increasing consumption of specialty crop
- Market development
- Developing good agricultural handling and manufacturing practices
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.
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
ODAFF and USDA-AMS encourages projects that benefit beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, veteran farmers and projects that address problems or opportunities that cross state boundaries.
- Beginning Farmer is defined as an individual or entity that has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years and substantially participates in the operation
- Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher is a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. A Socially Disadvantaged Group is a group whose members have been subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program
- Veteran Farmer or Rancher is a producer who served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, including the reserve component thereof, was released from service under conditions other than dishonorable, and has not operated a farm or ranch for no ore than 10 years or who first obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period.
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.
Eligible Applicants
- 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 Specialty Crop Block Grant.
