The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) today announced 19 projects have been selected to receive $1,186,278 in Specialty Crop Block Grant funding. One of the projects is about conducting vegetable variety trials in field and high tunnel greenhouses to improve vegetable production, profitability, and quality in northern Wisconsin.
These recipients were selected from a total of 36 funding requests totaling $2,550,444. Grants are awarded to projects intended to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop industries through research, education or market development. Recipients are required to provide 25 percent of the grant funds as a matching contribution.
Funding for Specialty Crop Block Grants is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
“These grants benefit Wisconsin's specialty crop industries in a variety of ways, from pest and pathogen mitigation to innovation, education, and marketing efforts. We are pleased to help support a range of diverse specialty crop initiatives once again," said DATCP Secretary-designee Randy Romanski.