Last week Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced nearly $ 118 million in grants are being made to strengthen markets for specialty crops in all 50 states. Center for Rural Affairs Senior Associate for Ag and Conservation Policy Traci Bruckner says there are several projects in Nebraska that could benefit from those two USDA specialty grant programs.
The grants are provided through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative and administered by USDA’s AG Marketing Service. Bruckner says those programs also help diversify agriculture and gives a boost to rural communities.
Yearly sales of specialty crops total nearly $65 billion. For more information go to USDA’s website (and log onto AMS.USDA.gov).