19 Projects Selected for Wisconsin Ag Department's Specialty Crop Block Grant Funding

Sunday, December 20th, 2020 -- 10:05 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture announced that 19 projects have been selected to receive over $1.18 million in Specialty Crop Block Grant funding.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, coordinators say the recipients were chosen from a total of 36 funding requests totaling $2.5 million.  Grants are awarded to projects intended to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop industries through research, education or market development. Recipients are required to provide 25 percent of the grant funds as a matching contribution.

"These grants benefit Wisconsin's specialty crop industries in a variety of ways, from pest and pathogen mitigation to innovation, education, and marketing efforts," said State Agriculture Secretary Randy Romanski. "We are pleased to help support a range of diverse specialty crop initiatives once again."

Funding for Specialty Crop Block Grants is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, which defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.

The recipients of the funded projects include the University of Wisconsin campuses in Madison, River Falls, and Whitewater; Ginseng Board of Wisconsin; Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association; Savannah Institute; Wisconsin Apple Growers Association; and FairShare CSA.

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