By Scout Nelson
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has announced the approval of 15 specialty crop grants totaling more than $2.5 million to advance research, production, and marketing of specialty crops across the state.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said the grants will help strengthen the state’s position as a leader in crops such as dry edible beans, dry peas, lentils, and potatoes. “As farmers seek to diversify production, these grants provide important support through research, education, and trade missions,” he stated.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) approved $2,503,834.75 in funding for 2025. The funds are distributed based on crop acreage and production value to enhance crop sustainability, profitability, and innovation.
Recipients include North Dakota State University (NDSU), the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA), the Carrington Research Extension Center, the National Agricultural Genotyping Center, and the North Dakota Trade Office.
Projects include research on nematode management, lentil production, and potato disease control, as well as support for honey authenticity testing and specialty crop export promotion. Trade initiatives will help expand markets for products like potatoes, pulses, and other locally grown crops.
The NDDA received 49 applications, with 15 selected and forwarded to the USDA for approval. The next application period for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will open in December 2025 and close in January 2026, with final approvals expected in May 2026.
These grants reflect North Dakota’s continued commitment to supporting specialty crop growers and advancing sustainable farming practices that benefit both producers and consumers across the state.
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Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Government & Policy