Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program supports New Mexico specialty crop producers through research, promotion, and access projects that strengthen crop competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets.
Funder: New Mexico Department of Agriculture
Due Dates: February 14, 2027, by 5:00 p.m. MT (Project proposals)
Funding Amounts: Reimbursement-only funding for projects completed within 3 years; 2024 project awards ranged from $47,070.35 to $108,313.16
Summary: Supports research, promotion, and access projects that enhance specialty crop competitiveness in domestic or foreign markets.
Key Information: Projects cannot solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.
Description
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a federal Farm Bill program administered in New Mexico by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA). It funds projects whose sole purpose is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in domestic or foreign markets through promotion, research, and improved access. Projects may address local, regional, and national challenges experienced by specialty crop producers.
USDA defines specialty crops as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. NMDA serves as fiscal agent for the federal funding and monitors accepted projects, while recipients execute their approved work plans. New Mexico’s past funded work includes crop production research, pest and disease management, food safety, marketing, and producer education.
