What is a SCBGP?
The SCBGP program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and address issues that are facing the specialty crop industry. According to the USDA,  specialty crops are “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture)” (Source). Eligible crops must be intensively cultivated and used by people for food or medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered specialty crops.

How much funding has been available?
Of the program’s overall funding, each state has an available grant allocation that is based on the average of the most recent available value of specialty crop cash receipts in the state and the acreage of specialty crop production in the state. The amount of available overall funding changes each year and is announced in an annual Notice of Funds Availability. For FY 2019, approximately $72.5 million was awarded to 773 projects. For a list of awardees, click here.

2018

For FY 2018, $72 million was awarded to 788 projects. For a list of awardees, click here.

2017

For FY 2017, the SCBGP awarded approximately $60 million to 678 projects. To view a list of awardees, click here.

2016

In FY 2016, the SCBGP awarded approximately $62 million to 693 projects. To view a list of awardees, click here.

2015

For FY 2015 the SCBGP awarded approximately $63 million to 755 projects. To view a list of awardees, click here. 

 

How can funds be used?

The funds awarded through the SCBGP must be used by the recipient on projects that address issues associated with specialty crops, including:

  • Enhancing food safety
  • Assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing Good Agricultural Practices, Good Handling Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers, and processors.
  • Investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes
  • Developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops
  • Pest and disease control, and development of organic and sustainable production practices
  • Improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems
  • Developing local and regional food systems
  • Improving food access in underserved communities

Grant recipients must use awarded grant funds within three years of the start date.

Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include the agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture
within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. These entities are eligible to apply for grant funds directly to the USDA

For more information, visit the USDA’s website.

 SCMP

The USDA recognizes that interstate cooperation is often the best way to address issues and create lasting solutions. The Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) is designed to fund multi-state collaborations aimed at addressing specialty crop issues such as food safety; plant pests and disease; research; crop-specific projects addressing common issues; and marketing and promotion (Source).

Unlike the SCBGP, the SCMP is not available in every state. Eligible applicants include the agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Available Funding

Available funding for each year of the grant has been determined ahead of time through fiscal year 2018. Any funds not awarded in a given year will be rolled over into the following fiscal year.

2018

$5,000,000

2017

$4,000,000

2016

$3,000,000

2015

$2,000,000