Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has awarded 21 grants totaling over $3 million to promote the development, cultivation, production and sales of specialty crops in North Dakota.
“North Dakota is already a leading producer of several specialty crops, such as dry edible beans, dry peas, potatoes and lentils,” Goehring said. “As our farmers seek to diversify their production, these grants help provide important information through specialty crop research, education, and trade missions.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) approved $3,358,758.41 for the 2023 grants. The grants are distributed based on a formula that takes into account specialty crop acreage and production value.
Specialty crops are defined in law as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.”
Organizations and agencies receiving grants are:
North Dakota State University (NDSU) - $180,859 to pursue and develop a durable rust-resistant confectionary sunflower
NDSU - $170,123 to develop a comprehensive understanding of pulse proteins and their fractions as affected by simple food processing
National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) – $321,804 to develop a comprehensive molecular diagnostic panel and sampling techniques to quantify root pathogens in pulse crop hosts and the environment
NDSU - $142,975 to improve the management of the early die complex in potatoes North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) - $135,565.80 for an invasive horticulture pest trapping and outreach project
Source: nd.gov
Photo Credit: pixabay-ruslanababenko
Categories: North Dakota, Crops