Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Forecasted
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program supports Montana specialty crop stakeholders through research, education, and market development projects to improve the competitiveness of crops grown in the state.
Funder: Montana Department of Agriculture
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (Final application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Minimum request $25,000; no maximum (2026 cycle); approximately $2.7 million anticipated for multiple awards
Summary: Supports projects that enhance the marketability and competitiveness of Montana-grown specialty crops.
Key Information: Projects must benefit multiple stakeholders, not solely one commercial product, organization, institution, or individual.
Description
The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) administers the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program with funding from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The program supports projects that enhance the competitiveness of Montana-grown specialty crops in domestic or foreign markets. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, peas and lentils, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. Eligible plants must be intensively cultivated for food, medicinal purposes, or aesthetic use.
Supported work includes research, improved varieties, pest and disease control, food safety, nutrition education, distribution efficiency, and sustainability. Montana’s priorities also emphasize farmer education, infrastructure planning, consumer and buyer relationships, and producer networks. The program considers geographic diversity across the state, including rural and Tribal communities, when making funding recommendations.
