USA: Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant program applications open

Published 2023년 2월 28일

Tridge summary

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has launched the Specialty Crop Block Grant program, aiming to distribute over $544,000 across three years to boost the availability of locally grown produce and enhance the competitive edge of the Illinois specialty crop industry. This funding is part of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in the farm bill. The grants are open to producers, commodity associations, colleges, non-profit organizations, and more, and can be used for projects in areas such as research, pest and disease control, nutrition education, and food safety. Illinois is a major producer of various specialty crops, including leading in pumpkin and horseradish production. The application deadline is March 23rd.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has opened applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The department plans to distribute more than $544,000 over a three-year period in an effort to expand availability of locally grown produce and increase competitiveness of the Illinois specialty crop industry. The funding is allocated through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in the farm bill. Producers, commodity associations, colleges, non-profit organizations and others can apply for funding toward projects that benefit the Illinois specialty crop industry including research, pest and disease control, nutrition education, improving distribution systems, supporting organic crops and enhancing food safety. USDA defines specialty crops as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. IDOA says there are more than 3200 producers growing specialty crops on more than 90,000 acres ...

Source: Brownfield Ag