North Dakota Ag Connection - Specialty Crop Grant Application Deadline Approaching

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Specialty Crop Grant Application Deadline Approaching
North Dakota Ag Connection - 04/29/2016

The application deadline for the 2016 Specialty Crop Grants is two weeks away.

"North Dakota has been allocated $2.5 million to promote the production, processing and use of specialty crops," said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. "Individuals, organizations and institutions are invited to submit proposals, either on their own or in partnerships."

The funding from USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service can only be used for projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and benefit the specialty crop industry as a whole. Projects must benefit more than one commercial product, organization, institution or individual.

USDA defines specialty crops as "fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops." Specialty crops grown commercially in North Dakota include dry beans, dry peas, lentils, potatoes, confection sunflowers, grapes, honey and various vegetables.

Goehring said an information manual with application instructions, scoring criteria and an application template can be found on NDDA's website: www.nd.gov/ndda/program/specialty-crop-block-grant-program.

Applications must be submitted in electronic form by 4 p.m. CDT May 11. An external review committee will review and score the applications. The successful applications will be forwarded onto the USDA for final approval. The grants will be awarded in late fall/early winter.

Projects funded by the grants must be completed by September 30, 2018.

Goehring said persons needing more information should contact Emily Edlund at (701) 328-2191 or edlund@nd.gov.

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