DELAWARE- The Delaware Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, offering approximately $340,000 in competitive federal funding to strengthen the state’s specialty crop sector.
Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, nursery crops, and floriculture. Eligible applicants include farmers, nonprofit organizations, local governments, for-profit companies and educational institutions that are either based in Delaware or have a state-based affiliation.
Grants ranging from $5,000 to $75,000 will support projects that increase the competitiveness of specialty crops. Projects must be one to three years in duration and are expected to provide measurable outcomes that benefit the broader industry says the department. Field crops such as corn and soybeans, along with animal agriculture, are not eligible for funding under this program.
Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. Eastern on June 24, a significantly shorter window than in previous years. The department noted the condensed timeline is necessary to meet federal USDA deadlines.
Past funded projects have supported local agriculture by developing deer deterrent methods, expanding community-supported agriculture efforts and marketing locally grown produce.
