A specialty crop is defined by the USDA as “Fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Eligible plants must be cultivated or managed and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered specialty crops. Processed products shall consist of greater than 50% of the specialty crop by weight, exclusive of added water.” The USDA lists eligible and ineligible crops on their website. This list is not exhaustive, so if you have a question about a crop that is not represented, please contact us before applying.
The amount of federal Specialty Crop funding allocated to Minnesota is based on the reported acreage of specialty crop production and sales. The USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) collects this information. However, specialty crop production is often underreported. We encourage all farms to sign up to get future surveys and censuses. (NASS defines a farm as any place that normally produces and sells $1,000 or more of agricultural products in a calendar year.)
The amount of federal Specialty Crop funding allocated to Minnesota is based on the reported acreage of specialty crop production and sales. The USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) collects this information. However, specialty crop production is often underreported. We encourage all farms to sign up to get future surveys and censuses. (NASS defines a farm as any place that normally produces and sells $1,000 or more of agricultural products in a calendar year.)
Please refer to the Past Projects tab on our SCBG website to see previously funded projects.
Please refer to the Past Projects tab on our SCBG website to see previously funded projects.
In general, beekeeping projects and projects to enhance the competitiveness of honey are eligible under the SCBGP because of the pollination aspect bees play in sustaining specialty crop health, and beekeeping is considered as horticulture. Other bee products may be eligible depending on how they will be used or the purpose of the project. Bee products that are used for food or medicine are eligible. Research projects on pollination or education projects to enhance local beekeeping strategies are eligible.
In general, beekeeping projects and projects to enhance the competitiveness of honey are eligible under the SCBGP because of the pollination aspect bees play in sustaining specialty crop health, and beekeeping is considered as horticulture. Other bee products may be eligible depending on how they will be used or the purpose of the project. Bee products that are used for food or medicine are eligible. Research projects on pollination or education projects to enhance local beekeeping strategies are eligible.
The purpose of the grant program, which was redefined as part of the 2020 application, is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by:
- Leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops;
- Assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops;
- Expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and
- Addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers.
A specialty crop is defined by the USDA as “Fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Eligible plants must be cultivated or managed and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered specialty crops. Processed products shall consist of greater than 50% of the specialty crop by weight, exclusive of added water.” The USDA lists eligible and ineligible crops on their website. This list is not exhaustive, so if you have a question about a crop that is not represented, please contact us before applying.
The amount of federal Specialty Crop funding allocated to Minnesota is based on the reported acreage of specialty crop production and sales. The USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) collects this information. However, specialty crop production is often underreported. We encourage all farms to sign up to get future surveys and censuses. (NASS defines a farm as any place that normally produces and sells $1,000 or more of agricultural products in a calendar year.)
Please refer to the Past Projects tab on our SCBG website to see previously funded projects.
In general, beekeeping projects and projects to enhance the competitiveness of honey are eligible under the SCBGP because of the pollination aspect bees play in sustaining specialty crop health, and beekeeping is considered as horticulture. Other bee products may be eligible depending on how they will be used or the purpose of the project. Bee products that are used for food or medicine are eligible. Research projects on pollination or education projects to enhance local beekeeping strategies are eligible.
No, neither hemp nor cannabis is considered an eligible specialty crop by the USDA, regardless of its ultimate use.
Eligible applicants
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).