For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 9, 2023

Media Contact: Brian Walsh, brian.walsh@state.sd.us

Grant Proposals Requested for Projects that Promote Specialty Crops

PIERRE, S.D. –The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is pleased to announce funds are available to enhance the competitiveness of South Dakota specialty crops through the 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The application deadline is March 24, 2023. South Dakota’s state, local, or tribal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, research institutions, institutions of higher education, for-profit businesses, and individual producers may apply.

An informational Q&A session will be held for grant applicants on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT. Please contact Timothy Schoonhoven at timothy.schoonhoven@state.sd.us or 605-773-3623 for attendance information.

“South Dakota is a national leader in agricultural production, and specialty crops play an important role in South Dakota agriculture,” said DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts. “We look forward to supporting our specialty crop industry through this year’s round of innovative proposals.”

Grant funds can be used to expand specialty crop production and market access, increase specialty crop consumption and purchasing, improve environmental sustainability and pest and disease control, expand specialty crop research and development, bolster food safety knowledge and processes, and contribute to new seed variety development.

Specialty crops are generally defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture.) A full list of eligible and ineligible specialty crops is available on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website.

DANR receives funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and conducts a competitive review process with an independent panel of experts from the South Dakota agricultural community to award Specialty Crop Block Grant projects. Projects may receive funding for up to three years, beginning September 30, 2023, and extending up to September 29, 2026.

The deadline for applications is March 24, 2023, at 11:59 pm CDT.

Applications should be submitted via email to timothy.schoonhoven@state.sd.us. The FY23 Request for Proposals and application materials are available at https://danr.sd.gov/Conservation/SpecialtyCropBlockGrant/default.aspx.

For additional information, please contact Timothy Schoonhoven, Grants and Loans Specialist, at 605-773-3623.

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