The Specialty Crop Block Program (SCBGP) is a competitive grant program operated by the NDA through funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to be sub-awarded to eligible applicants in support of Nevada’s specialty crop industry.
Donor Name: Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA)
State: Nevada
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/16/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The Agriculture Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) authorized the USDA to partner with state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of growers of fruits, vegetables and other horticultural crops in areas such as marketing, promotion, education, research, trade and nutrition. A state department of agriculture is the agency, commission or department of a state government responsible for agriculture within the state. Examples of initiatives that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops include:
- Leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops (not a business but crops themselves) with multiple project beneficiaries.
- Assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops that will enhance the industry.
- Expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and
- Addressing local, regional and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers.
Funding Information
Nevada is eligible to receive an estimated grant of approximately $267,239.00.
Grant Period
All projects must be completed by Sept. 29, 2028. Projects can last up to three years with the anticipated award period starting on Oct. 1, 2025, and ending Sept. 29, 2028.
Eligible Activities
SCBGP project activities may include the following:
- Developing new/improved seed varieties and specialty crops
- Research that will aid in control of pests and diseases
- Increasing education that will support the establishment of new specialty crop producers
- Creating sustainable production practices
- Establishing local and regional fresh food systems
- Expanding food access in underserved/food desert communities
- Increasing nutritional knowledge and specialty crop consumption
- Improving efficiency and sustainability within the distribution system with reduced costs
- Supporting research through standard and green initiatives
- Enhancing food safety.
Eligible Projects
Examples of “enhancing the competitiveness” of specialty crops includes, but is not limited to: research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, increased consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, development of sustainable farming systems, school garden programs, farm-to-school programs, environmental concerns and conservation, product development, and developing cooperatives.
Examples of acceptable SCBGP projects:
- State requests funding to contract with a university to conduct research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating and growing a specialty crop in an 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 field days and farm tours to encourage other small family farmers to adopt the production methods.
Eligibility Criteria
All entities, organizations or individuals must be in good standing to receive funds. Debarred or suspended organizations are not eligible. Poor performance from previous SCBGP awards may also impact eligibility. Additional eligibility information includes the following:
- Applications will be accepted from non-profits, tribal organizations, minority groups, disadvantaged farmers, agricultural associations, industry groups, community-based organizations, individual producers (cannot be for the benefit of a sole individual business or entity), and academia that seek to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops in Nevada.
- Applicants must be in good standing with all grant funds and required reports associated with the NDA to be eligible to apply.
- Any individual/organization that has been disbarred or had funding revoked with any state/federal entity will not be considered.
- Applicant projects must benefit more than one individual or organization.
For more information, visit NDA.
