US: $36.5 million for specialty crop research and extension investments

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced 19 grants totaling $36.5 million for research and extension to support American farmers growing fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops including floriculture. The grants are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

“America’s specialty crop farmers face many challenges ranging from a changing climate to increasing production costs. Investing in cutting edge research helps uncover solutions to keep their operations viable and ensures Americans have access to safe, affordable and diverse food options,” said Vilsack. “The universities, state departments of agriculture and trade associations that partner with USDA address challenges at the national and local levels to help sustain all parts of America’s food and agriculture system, whether the farms are small or large, conventional or organic.”

USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) develops and disseminates science-based tools to address the needs of specific crops. The funded projects address research and extension needs that span the entire spectrum of specialty crops production from researching plant genetics to improving crop characteristics; identifying and addressing threats from pests and diseases; improving production and profitability; developing new production innovations and technologies; and developing methods to respond to food safety hazards.

Grants being announced, by state, include:

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, Ark., $50,000
The American Olive Oil Producers Association, Clovis, Calif., $50,000
Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, Ill., $3,694,012
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $3,673,611
Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Md., $3,683,590
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $1,467,724
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $48,558
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $ 3,717,519
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $ 3,276,666
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $46,956
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., $ 2,849,975
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., $50,000
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M., $ 4,404,284
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $ 4,281,618
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $ 2,019,142
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $35,240
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $33,744
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore., $3,112,410
Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Texas, $35,418