The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) recently announced that it has distributed $2.08 million of funding to 19 food and agriculture entities throughout Michigan under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
“Specialty crops are the backbone of Michigan’s agricultural success, but market uncertainty, unpredictable weather and labor constraints are making them harder to grow and get to market,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “These Specialty Crop Block Grants are strategic investments that will help Michigan farmers boost yields and access new markets, thereby giving Michiganders more access to locally grown foods and enhancing community health and prosperity.”
In testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate earlier this year, Boring urged Congress to maintain high and consistent funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
The USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program provides funding to U.S. states and territories to enhance the competitiveness of fruit and vegetable, tree nut, dried fruit, horticulture and nursery crop production. MDARD uses those funds to award specialty crop block grants to eligible Michigan entities annually through a process.
Michigan is a top five U.S. producer of specialty crops including apples, asparagus, blueberries, dry beans, squash and nursery plants. These specialty crops are critical to the health and resiliency of Michigan’s nearly $126 billion food and agriculture industry.
For additional information on the MDARD Grants Program and how it can help, visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants.com or email MDA-Grants@michigan.gov.
“Specialty crops are the backbone of Michigan’s agricultural success, but market uncertainty, unpredictable weather and labor constraints are making them harder to grow and get to market,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “These Specialty Crop Block Grants are strategic investments that will help Michigan farmers boost yields and access new markets, thereby giving Michiganders more access to locally grown foods and enhancing community health and prosperity.”
In testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate earlier this year, Boring urged Congress to maintain high and consistent funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
The USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program provides funding to U.S. states and territories to enhance the competitiveness of fruit and vegetable, tree nut, dried fruit, horticulture and nursery crop production. MDARD uses those funds to award specialty crop block grants to eligible Michigan entities annually through a process.
Michigan is a top five U.S. producer of specialty crops including apples, asparagus, blueberries, dry beans, squash and nursery plants. These specialty crops are critical to the health and resiliency of Michigan’s nearly $126 billion food and agriculture industry.
For additional information on the MDARD Grants Program and how it can help, visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants.com or email MDA-Grants@michigan.gov.
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