By Jamie Martin
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), designed to strengthen the market presence of Louisiana-grown specialty crops.
This program is supported by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and aims to distribute at least $350,000 to qualifying projects within the state.
Projects eligible for funding include those that improve specialty crop distribution, production, research, and market development, among other areas. The focus is on broad industry enhancements rather than benefits to individual entities.
Prospective applicants include producer associations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other stakeholders within the specialty crop sector.
Applicants are required to be based in Louisiana and must include their Unique Entity ID (UEI) number in their submissions. The deadline for application submissions is March 17, 2025, by 4:30 p.m.
For guidance on the application process, LDAF has provided a Request for Applications (RFA) document available on their website. This resource includes detailed instructions, scoring criteria, and example project formats.
For additional information or assistance, applicants can contact Michelle Estay, the Commodity Promotion and Research Director, directly.
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Categories: National