Gem State Wire

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has opened the application process for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant. Applications must be submitted by March 10, 2025. The ISDA expects to receive over $2 million from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund projects that aim to improve the competitiveness of Idaho's specialty crops.

According to the USDA, specialty crops under this program include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, nursery crops such as floriculture and honey. Projects should focus on enhancing these crops' competitiveness in both domestic and international markets and must benefit more than one organization or individual.

In the previous year, ISDA funded 17 projects with an average grant of $113,500 each. These projects supported a variety of crops including apples, beans, cherries, hops, mint, potatoes, wine grapes, onions, horticulture products and seed potatoes. Activities funded included market expansion both domestically and internationally, trade facilitation efforts as well as pest control measures and crop management education initiatives.

An informational webinar about the application process will take place on January 16 at 11 a.m. Mountain Time. Further details and application materials can be found at www.agri.idaho.gov/scbg.

For additional information regarding grant applications, interested parties may contact Brenden Meyet at (208) 332-8547 or via email at Brenden.Meyet@isda.idaho.gov.