The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has opened the application period for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The program is designed to support projects that improve the competitiveness of specialty crops in the market. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, commodity associations, state and local government agencies, as well as colleges and universities. Applications must be submitted by March 10 at 5 p.m.
The grant program is managed by the department and depends on funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In previous years, about $1.2 million has been allocated annually to fund proposals. A list of eligible specialty crops can be found on the Agricultural Marketing Service website (https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop).
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said, “We are fortunate in North Carolina that our farmers can grow just about any crop, which means specialty crops are a significant part of North Carolina’s $100 billion farm economy and one that we want to continue to see grow. We are looking for strong proposals that focus on boosting specialty crop production.”
Grant requests can be made for up to $200,000 by eligible groups. Projects that directly benefit or provide profit to a single organization, institution or individual will not qualify for funding. Applicants have the option to submit a draft application by January 28 for review and feedback; however, reviews do not guarantee funding and may be limited depending on demand.
Further information about guidelines and applications is available at www.ncspecialtycrops.com/apply/. For questions, contact Jenni Keith at 919-707-3158 or jenni.keith@ncagr.gov.
