By Scout Nelson
North Dakota is now accepting applications for the 2026 Specialty Crop Grants. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring announces that the program supports projects designed to strengthen the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state. He encourages organizations, institutions, and individuals to apply either on their own or as partners.
The exact funding amount from USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service has not yet been released, but the state expects to receive it in the coming months. Once funds are available, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture will distribute them through a competitive grant process. This ensures that projects with strong potential for impact receive support.
Eligible projects include pest and disease control, development of new seed varieties, research to improve specialty crops, and efforts that promote conservation and environmental benefits. Programs that help increase nutrition knowledge and encourage the consumption of specialty crops among children and adults also qualify. Projects that benefit only one business, product, or private interest cannot receive funding.
The USDA defines specialty crops as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture crops, and nursery crops. In North Dakota, commercially grown specialty crops include dry beans, dry peas, lentils, potatoes, confection sunflowers, grapes, honey, and several vegetables.
Applicants can find instructions, scoring criteria, and templates in the information manual available on the North Dakota Department of Agriculture website. Applications must be submitted electronically by 4 p.m. CST on Monday, January 12, 2026. After this deadline, applications will be reviewed, scored, and ranked. Commissioner Goehring will then select the strongest proposals to forward to the USDA for final approval in May 2026.
Funded projects will begin on October 1, 2026, and must be completed by September 30, 2028. These grants give growers, researchers, and community groups an opportunity to advance specialty crop production and education across the state.
Anyone seeking more information may contact Waldemar Garcia at (701) 328-2191 or scbg@nd.gov.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Government & Policy