OK Specialty Crop Block Grant

The OK Specialty Crop Block Grant, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through projects that benefit both domestic and foreign markets. Funding is based on specialty crop acreage and production value. Eligible initiatives include pest control, food safety enhancements, and market development, all designed to promote sustainable agriculture and measurable outcomes for Oklahoma's agricultural sector.

Background
ODAFF administers funding received from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) each year. The amount of funding received by ODAFF is based on specialty crop acreage and production value on an annual basis. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets and must provide a benefit to more than just the applicant. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, culinary herbs, tree nuts, Christmas trees, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Projects will be evaluated on how well they enhance the competitiveness of Oklahoma’s specialty crops, soundness or plan, measurable outcomes and return on investment.
Projects may include but are not limited to:

• Pest and disease control
• Enhancing food safety
• Developing new and improved seed varieties
• Increasing consumption of specialty crops
• Market development
• Developing good agricultural handling and manufacturing practices