The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $2.2 million in grants to Michigan for specialty crops. This funding will support farmers across the state who grow fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. The grants will be used to fund a variety of projects, including invasive species and disease management, market development, and climate change adaptation.
The grants are authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and are awarded for a three-year period. Since 2006, the USDA has invested over $1 billion through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 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.
In Michigan, the grant funding will be used to support a variety of projects, including:
• Helping the Michigan Potato Industry Commission provide nutritional education and inspiration using Michigan-produced potatoes to food insecure and bilingual audiences across the state.
• Supporting the Michigan Bean Commission to improve environmental and economic sustainability of dry bean production in the state while reducing the reliance on synthetic crop inputs to better meet the demands of a changing marketplace.
• Funding research on new and innovative ways to manage invasive pests and diseases that threaten Michigan's specialty crops.
• Helping specialty crop producers develop new markets for their products, including both domestic and international markets.
• Supporting efforts to improve the resiliency of Michigan's specialty crop production to climate change.
The USDA's investment in Michigan's specialty crop sector will help to ensure that the state's farmers remain competitive and that consumers continue to have access to a wide variety of fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Photo Credit: getty-images-elhenyo
Categories: Michigan, Crops