Specialty Crop Block Grants

The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) administers the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB), which is supported through federal allocations from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The SCBGP-FB provides annual funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, defined by the Farm Bill as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). To be considered a specialty crop, products must be cultivated or managed and used for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification. Processed products must also consist of more than 50% specialty crops by weight, excluding added water. This grant program aims to support Michigan’s specialty crop producers by funding projects that improve the sector’s competitiveness. Eligible projects include activities related to promotion, marketing, research, nutrition, food safety, trade enhancement, plant health, education, distribution efficiency, environmental sustainability, product development, and good agricultural practices. Funding priorities for the 2026 cycle include market enhancement (particularly farm-to-institution strategies and nutritional education), research and development (such as pest management and regenerative agriculture), and training/education to address national and regional challenges faced by specialty crop producers. Proposals are expected to demonstrate broad public benefit and measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry, rather than providing profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Acceptable projects may include collaborative research with universities, market access expansion, and education initiatives. Unacceptable projects include those that solely promote a single product or commercial entity. Two proposals per entity may be submitted, with a maximum award ceiling of $125,000 per proposal. All proposals must be submitted via the MiAgGrants online system using either a Citizen or Business MiLogin account. The grant operates on a cost-reimbursement basis and grantees must provide documentation for expenses prior to reimbursement. The 2026 grant cycle opens on December 17, 2025. A live informational webinar will take place on January 7, 2026, followed by two additional office hour sessions on January 14 and January 22. Final proposals are due by February 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST. An evaluation committee will review proposals in March 2026, with the MDARD submitting the State Plan to USDA by May 2026. USDA is expected to review the plan by June or July, and final award notices and agreements with USDA will be made in September. Sub-awardee agreements will follow in October or November 2026. Projects may begin work once these agreements are signed and must be completed within two years. Applicants must be legal entities in good standing, registered with the State of Michigan and the federal System for Award Management (SAM). Eligible applicants include nonprofit and for-profit organizations, government entities (local, state, tribal, federal), and universities (if the application is submitted by an eligible organization on their behalf). Grantees must also comply with federal Uniform Administrative Requirements. Projects involving research must disseminate results to specialty crop stakeholders, and all proposals must align with the USDA’s grant compliance guidelines and MDARD’s administrative rules. Technical support is available through the MDARD Customer Service Center, and application materials, including required forms and resources, are accessible on the MiAgGrants portal.

Avoid incomplete applications and special characters; ensure public benefit; align with USDA SCBG priorities.