Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 18 003
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Farm Bill is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity designed to strengthen and improve the competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States and its territories. For this funding cycle, AMS announced approximately $72.1 million in total grant funds available (with the note that AMS administrative costs are taken out of that amount). The program is specifically limited to projects that benefit specialty crops, which USDA defines as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. In other words, the funding is not meant for general agriculture; it is targeted to activities that measurably support specialty crop industries, markets, growers, and related supply chains.
Only state-level governmental entities are eligible to apply directly to AMS. Eligible applicants include state departments of agriculture and equivalent agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture within the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories listed in the notice: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Individuals, nonprofits, universities, local governments, and private businesses generally do not apply straight to USDA under this opportunity; instead, they are typically expected to work through their state department of agriculture. The notice encourages anyone who is not eligible to apply directly to contact their local state department of agriculture, since states commonly run their own subaward or pass-through competitions using these federal funds.
A key feature of the program is that state departments of agriculture are expected to engage specialty crop stakeholders and run a competitive grant proposal process at the state level. The announcement explicitly encourages outreach to specialty crop stakeholders, as well as to socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers. This implies that states should actively publicize the funding opportunity, solicit project ideas, and use a fair selection process to choose projects that best advance specialty crop competitiveness within their state or territory. Information on state contacts and state-level requests for proposals is provided through the AMS SCBGP website (www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp), which is where interested parties would typically look to find the right state program contact and the timing and rules for that state competition.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a mandatory grant program (Opportunity Category: Mandatory) with a grant funding instrument (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) and an agriculture activity focus (Funding Activity Category: Agriculture). The CFDA number associated with the program is 10.170. The federal opportunity was created on March 7, 2018, and applications from state departments of agriculture to AMS were due by May 24, 2018 (Original Closing Date: May 24, 2018). The listing notes an expected 56 awards, reflecting participation across states and eligible territories, and it shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that a single fixed maximum award amount is not specified in the summary fields and that allocations may be determined by program formulas or other guidance rather than a universal cap.
Overall, the SCBGP - Farm Bill opportunity is best understood as a federal-to-state funding stream meant to help states invest in projects that expand markets, improve production and marketing capacity, support research and innovation, strengthen food safety and quality initiatives, and otherwise boost the competitive position of specialty crop producers and related businesses. The practical next step for most potential project partners is not to apply to AMS directly, but to monitor and apply through their state department of agriculture when the state releases its own SCBGP request for proposals.Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 18 003
- The Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.170.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 07, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 56 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Farm Bill: FAQs
What is the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Farm Bill?
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Farm Bill is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant program designed to strengthen and improve the competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States and its territories.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is intended to fund projects that measurably support specialty crop industries, markets, growers, and related supply chains. It is not a general agriculture grant; it is targeted specifically to initiatives that improve the competitive position of specialty crops.
How much funding is available under this cycle?
AMS announced approximately $72.1 million in total grant funds available for this funding cycle, with the note that AMS administrative costs are taken out of that amount.
Who is eligible to apply directly to USDA AMS for SCBGP funds?
Only state-level governmental entities are eligible to apply directly to AMS. This includes state departments of agriculture and equivalent agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture.
Which locations are included as eligible applicants?
Eligible applicants include the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the following U.S. territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Can individuals, nonprofits, universities, local governments, or businesses apply directly to AMS under this opportunity?
Generally, no. Individuals, nonprofits, universities, local governments, and private businesses typically do not apply directly to USDA AMS under this opportunity. They are generally expected to work through their state department of agriculture.
If my organization is not eligible to apply directly to AMS, what should I do?
The notice encourages ineligible applicants to contact their local state department of agriculture. States commonly run their own competitive subaward or pass-through processes using these federal funds.
How are projects selected if only states apply to AMS?
State departments of agriculture are expected to engage specialty crop stakeholders and run a competitive grant proposal process at the state level. States select projects that best advance specialty crop competitiveness within their state or territory.
Are states expected to do outreach before selecting projects?
Yes. The announcement explicitly encourages outreach to specialty crop stakeholders, as well as to socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers. This suggests states should publicize opportunities and solicit project ideas before making award decisions.
What types of crops count as "specialty crops" for this program?
USDA defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
Does SCBGP fund general agriculture projects?
No. The program is specifically limited to projects that benefit specialty crops, as defined by USDA. The funding is targeted to activities that support specialty crop industries rather than general agriculture.
What kinds of activities can SCBGP support?
As described in the opportunity summary, SCBGP is meant to help states invest in projects that expand markets, improve production and marketing capacity, support research and innovation, strengthen food safety and quality initiatives, and otherwise boost the competitiveness of specialty crop producers and related businesses.
Where can I find my state or territory SCBGP contact and state-level application details?
State contacts and information on state-level requests for proposals (RFPs) are provided through the AMS SCBGP website: www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp. This is where interested parties typically look for state program contacts, timing, and state competition rules.
What is the Opportunity Category for this program?
The listing describes SCBGP as a mandatory grant program (Opportunity Category: Mandatory).
What is the Funding Instrument Type?
The Funding Instrument Type is a grant.
What is the Funding Activity Category?
The Funding Activity Category is Agriculture.
What is the CFDA number for SCBGP?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 10.170.
When was this federal opportunity created and when was it due?
The federal opportunity was created on March 7, 2018. Applications from state departments of agriculture to AMS were due by May 24, 2018 (Original Closing Date: May 24, 2018).
How many awards were expected under this listing?
The listing notes an expected 56 awards, reflecting participation across states and eligible territories.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 0. This typically indicates that a single fixed maximum award amount is not specified in the summary fields and that allocations may be determined by program formulas or other guidance rather than a universal cap.
What is the practical next step for most potential project partners?
For most potential partners who cannot apply directly to AMS, the next step is to monitor and apply through their state department of agriculture when the state releases its own SCBGP request for proposals.
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