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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced $424,000 in funding awarded to Missouri through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Through this program, the Missouri Department of Agriculture will fund projects that strengthen Missouri’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research.
“We are happy to once again be partnered with Missouri on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The innovative projects funded through this program will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops and support the region’s specialty crop growers to help ensure their long-term success.”
Through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Missouri Department of Agriculture will fund nine projects. Among department’s projects is funding to the Missouri Grown program to provide stipends to schools and early childcare centers to purchase specialty crops from the state’s farmers. Additional funded projects focus on areas such as assessing new cultivars and varietals, developing improved irrigation management systems, and marketing.
“Specialty crops are vital to Missouri’s agriculture industry,” said Mississippi Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “The Specialty Crop Block Grants help further an important segment of the industry and build opportunity for those who may be interested in agriculture. Our specialty crop industry is diverse, and I am excited to see how these grants can help Missouri producers moving forward.”
The funding to Mississippi is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2024 funding awarded to 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The funding supports farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA’s support will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production, expand markets, and ensure an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops is available to all Americans.
View more information on the 2024 SCBGP Awarded Grants (pdf).
AMS administers programs that create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops. AMS also provides the agriculture industry with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of wholesome food for consumers across the country and globally. AMS services and its significant grant investments create opportunities by supporting American farmers, ranchers and businesses across the supply chain, and drive economic development in small towns and rural communities.
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