The funding will be used to support a variety of projects, including research into new high-yielding cultivars of pecans, education programs on specialty crop production, and disease detection.
"Specialty crops continue to play a large role in Missouri's agriculture industry," said Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. "The projects funded through this grant each year help sustain a valuable segment of our industry."
The funding is part of the USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), which provides financial assistance to 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia to support the production and marketing of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops.
"With this year's Specialty Crop Block Grant funding, Missouri is investing in innovative projects that will help address the needs of specialty crop producers within the region," said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. "The funded projects will also further USDA's efforts to ensure U.S. specialty crop products remain competitive in markets across the nation and abroad."
The SCBGP funding is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and FY2023 funding is awarded for a three-year period beginning Sept. 30, 2023. Since 2006, USDA has invested over $1 billion through the SCBGP to fund nearly 12,000 projects that have increased the long-term successes of producers and enhanced marketing opportunities for U.S. specialty crops products.
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Categories: Missouri, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Government & Policy