The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is now accepting applications for grant funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. These grants are available for projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Iowa. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, says this helps farmers focus on areas that help expand their businesses. “Specialty crops are an example of value-added agriculture as they allow farmers to diversify and give customers access to locally grown products,” he says. Grants will not be awarded if they directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization or institution. They must benefit the specialty crop industry as a whole. The projects can include marketing and promotions, research and development, expanding availability and access to specialty crops and addressing local, regional and national challenges confronting specialty crop production. The maximum allotment for a grant is set at $24,000 for projects with a duration of up to 30 months. Funding for 2018 topped $334,000. The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, March 1. More information is available through the link included below.
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For more information or applications:
| Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
