Specialty crop projects across Idaho have been approved for funding from the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has been allotted nearly $2 million for projects to improve specialty crops in Idaho, which should help make both the industry and state more competitive.
- Boise State University will receive $139,000 for a web-enabled site suitability and visualization tool to support Idaho’s growing wine industry.
- The Idaho Potato Commission was selected to receive two grants: one for $133,000 for international business development for the Idaho Potatoes brand, and another for $125,000 for the development of pale cyst nemotode resistance in russet-skinned potato clones.
- The Idaho Bean Commission was selected for two grants. The first is for $162,000 for water and soil conversation and effective weed management for sustainable dry bean production; the other is worth $99,000 and will be used for novel genetic systems to develop bean varieties resistant to viruses for export to Mexico.
“The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has been very important to Idaho agriculture,” said ISDA director Celia Gould. “This is the seventh year of the program, and we’ve invested almost $8 million of federal funding into Idaho projects. Some of those projects have been extremely innovative and on the leading edge of technology. We’ve funded projects for remote sensing technology applications for crop monitoring, as well as robotic harvesting technology.”
Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Eligible projects are required to benefit more than one organization and to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Projects may include such things as pest and disease control, reduction of production costs and inputs, new seed varieties, market development, enhancing food safety, technology solutions to production issues, and promotion.
This year, 16 projects were selected for funding. These include research, promotional and educational activities for potato, bean, apple, cherry, onion, wine grape and pea and lentil crops. These projects will come from diverse organizations, commissions and universities throughout the state. More information on the Specialty Crop Grant Program can be found at ISDA’s website.
Final approval by the USDA came on Sept. 29, with funding expected to be available sometime in November. Questions about the grant program should be directed to Eric Boyington at eric.boyington@agri.idaho.gov or (208) 332-8537.
Source: The Times-News