Yes. Prior to 2020, such a project would not have been eligible, but under new guidance it can be. We know, for example, that some specialty crop growers produce and market non-specialty crops (such as wild rice) through the same channels.
An eligible proposal needs to show to the review committee members and the MDA Commissioner that:
- The project should result in a significant benefit to the specialty crop industry (or a segment of the industry—potatoes, for example).
- The project has external support from specialty crop stakeholders; a stakeholder is a specialty crop grower, grower-level group, processor, or distributor. The proposal needs to list the farmer(s) or organization(s) and describe the reasons they would like you to conduct this project.
- The project should positively affect and produce measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public.
- The proposed project will not solely benefit a particular commercial product; provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual; or result in unfair competition with private companies that provide equivalent products or services (for example, increase one co-op’s sales of specialty crops at the expense of another co-op).
Private businesses, private researchers, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and units of government are eligible to apply. Though most grants under this program are awarded to universities and nonprofits, the evaluation criteria treat all entities equally, as long as they are capable of performing the proposed work.
It should be noted that projects submitted by for-profit businesses, individual producers, or commercial entities are not eligible for a SCBG if the grant funds will be used for projects that will start or expand a business; solely benefit a particular commercial product; provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual; or result in unfair competition with private companies that provide equivalent products or services. Applications from these entities will also be screened to make sure the project will benefit a segment of a Minnesota specialty crop industry and not just the applicant organization. Projects proposed by these entities must provide knowledge that is transferable to other entities and incorporate a clear plan or disseminating the results of their research, production methods, etc., to provide value to the industry at large.
All applications will be reviewed and scored on the extent of external support from specialty crop growers, grower-level groups, processors, and distributors (stakeholders), and how the project may affect and produce measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry segment and/or the public. These evaluation criteria are often more difficult for for-profit entities to attain. Your proposal may be strengthened by including a plan to share results with a wide audience of stakeholders and possible beneficiaries and/or collaborate or partner with a non-profit or academic organization to broaden your external support from stakeholders and/or ability to conduct outreach to collect project performance data.
We do accept applications from organizations outside of Minnesota, if the proposed project aligns with the grant program’s goals of improving the competitiveness of Minnesota’s specialty crops through research, education, or market development projects. For example, we’ve previously funded research projects with North Dakota State University involving research on potatoes grown in Minnesota because Minnesota potato producers benefited from the project.
Yes, you may submit a proposal—it can be related to the current grant, but that is not a requirement. It is relatively common for us to fund projects that build upon previously funded work.
The application includes a section of questions for proposals that are related to previously funded efforts. The things we would like to know include the objectives and outcomes of the previous project, any lessons learned from the project, how the proposed project differs from the previous project, and how the lessons learned will be incorporated into the next project. Projects that stem from previously funded SCBG projects need to address in the application whether the projects are likely to become self-sustaining and whether specialty crop stakeholders, other than those involved in the project, support the continuation of the project.
For-profit entities and food hubs have been awarded SCBG funding, as seen in the list of Past Grantees, and the program encourages projects that are designed to leverage efforts to market and promote specialty crops.
Yes. Prior to 2020, such a project would not have been eligible, but under new guidance it can be. We know, for example, that some specialty crop growers produce and market non-specialty crops (such as wild rice) through the same channels.
Submission process
You can register through the free System Award Management (SAM) site.
You can register through the free System Award Management (SAM) site.
Our online application portal uses character limits. We estimate 3,000 characters is equal to a page. The character limits are listed below the text box of each narrative in the online application. Spaces DO count towards the character limit.
Our online application portal uses character limits. We estimate 3,000 characters is equal to a page. The character limits are listed below the text box of each narrative in the online application. Spaces DO count towards the character limit.
The USDA is looking for descriptions of all support that your proposed project has from specialty crop stakeholders, including farmers and farmer organizations. Describe the specialty crop producers/farmers, producer organizations, processors and/or distributors that support this project and why each support it. If a stakeholder has provided (verbal or written) some level of support to you or a collaborator or partner, you may include those specifics in this narrative.
A thorough description of the involvement of each stakeholder in your project in the narrative box of the application is important.
The letters of support from stakeholders are not required to be submitted with your application. However, including one or more letters by stakeholders may strengthen your proposal by enabling reviewers to better gauge the level of support for your application. If your SCBG proposal is accepted by the MDA for inclusion as a project in the MDA’s SCBG application to the USDA, the stakeholder support letters will not be included or attached to the MDA’s application.
The USDA is looking for descriptions of all support that your proposed project has from specialty crop stakeholders, including farmers and farmer organizations. Describe the specialty crop producers/farmers, producer organizations, processors and/or distributors that support this project and why each support it. If a stakeholder has provided (verbal or written) some level of support to you or a collaborator or partner, you may include those specifics in this narrative.
A thorough description of the involvement of each stakeholder in your project in the narrative box of the application is important.
The letters of support from stakeholders are not required to be submitted with your application. However, including one or more letters by stakeholders may strengthen your proposal by enabling reviewers to better gauge the level of support for your application. If your SCBG proposal is accepted by the MDA for inclusion as a project in the MDA’s SCBG application to the USDA, the stakeholder support letters will not be included or attached to the MDA’s application.
Stakeholders in the project are not necessarily beneficiaries of the project. A beneficiary is an entity that stands to benefit from the performance of the grant project activities. Examples of SCBG project beneficiaries are the attendees of a grant funded workshop who learn how to write a food safety plan; growers who learn how to detect and control a common plant disease by attending a conference presentation; or children who learn about growing, preparing, and eating specialty crops in a school program.
Stakeholders can be growers, grower-level groups, processors, and distributors that support the project by standing to benefit from it, or that are assisting the applicant/grantee set priorities, review and comment on the project, or implement the project. For the purposes of this grant, stakeholders are not the project partners or collaborators who are listed in the application.