Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced a significant investment in North Dakota’s agricultural future. Over $3 million is now dedicated to 21 grants, all designed to foster the growth and sales of specialty crops in the region.
North Dakota's diverse crops, including beans, potatoes, and lentils, are celebrated. Funds will support farmers for research, education, and outreach missions to expand these foundational crops.
These grants, given a nod by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS), are meticulously calculated based on crop acreage and its production value. For clarity, specialty crops include fruits, nuts, vegetables, and horticulture.
Several organizations have benefited from these funds:
• North Dakota State University (NDSU) has received multiple grants for projects like rust-resistant sunflowers, understanding pulse proteins, and developing milling operations for lentils.
• The National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) will focus on root pathogens in pulse crop hosts and herbicide resistance in kochia populations.
• The Northland Potato Growers Association intends to boost the visibility and sales of North Dakota’s potatoes.
• North Dakota Trade Office received funds to support international growth opportunities for local specialty crop producers.
• Other recipients like the USDA-ARS Sugarbeet and Potato Research Unit and Metigoshe Ministries have unique missions, from enhancing potato seed strategies to improving educational gardens.
Out of 44 applications, 21 were chosen for final USDA approval. As for future grant opportunities, the application window for the 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will open in December 2023, closing in January 2024. Those interested can contact Deanna Gierszewski at scbg@nd.gov for more details.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-amphawan-chanunpha
Categories: North Dakota, Crops