Specialty Crop Grant Programs is a grant from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry that funds projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Louisiana. Administered through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), Louisiana accepts applications for project proposals included in the state's annual plan.

Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, horticulture products, and nursery crops including floriculture. Eligible applicants are specialty crop producers and organizations in Louisiana. Projects may focus on marketing, promotion, research, food safety, and pest control.

Grant amounts vary by project scope.

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program | Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Get funding for marketing, promotion, research, food safety, and pest control of specialty crops in Louisiana The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) is a participating state in the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service's funded Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).

LDAF accepts applications for Louisiana grant project proposals to be included in Louisiana’s annual State Plan. The purpose of the SCBGP is to award funds to projects which enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty Crops are broadly defined as fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, horticulture products, and nursery crops including floriculture.

Lists of eligible and ineligible crops may be found on the USDA-AMS website.

The goal of the SCBGP is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by— Leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops Assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops Expanding availability and access to specialty crops Addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers Apply for funding and application documents 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Request for Applications 2026 Louisiana SPCBG Application Packet Checklist Louisiana SCBGP Grant Application Cover Page The forms in this section will direct you away from ldaf.

la. gov. Grantee Self-Assessment of Internal Control and Risks Document 2026 Project Profile Template Reminder that this template needs to be downloaded and opened from your computer, rather than from the web browser. Watch this tutorial for assistance.

SCBGP Performance Measures Calendar and deadlines 2025 Request for proposals release date Request for proposals deadline April 30, 2026- No later 4:30 CST Project selections announced LDAF submits State Plan to USDA USDA review of State Plan USDA State Plan approval and agreement signed LDAF contracts signed with sub-grantees See RFA for complete list of reporting requirements Review previously awarded projects Reducing Microbial Loads and Maintaining the Quality of Blueberries Through Combined Airborne Ultrasonic and Freezing Technology “Ask for Louisiana Strawberries” Influencer Marketing Campaign Establishment of a Model Agritourism Setup at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center Addressing Fresh Produce Safety Concerns with Non-Thermal Plasma-Activated Water Improving Disease Detection, Forecasting, and Developing the Best Management Practices to Mitigate Neo-Pestalotiopsis Leaf Fruit and Crown Disease of Strawberry Evaluation of Ginger Family Cultivars for Louisiana Horticulture Growers and Nurseries Assisting Louisiana Specialty Crop Producers to comply with Federal and Market Driven Food Safety Requirements Hustle & Grow Youth Education Program: Promoting Urban Farming and Increased Access to Specialty Crops at Baton Roots Community Farm Apprentice Project for Growing Beekeepers and Honey Producers in Louisiana Starch Properties and Their Association with French Fry Texture for Louisiana Grown Sweet Potatoes Leveraging University Outreach, Community Resources, and Youth Programs to Promote Education and Production of Watermelons and Potatoes Tea Terroir: Tailored Soil Fertility and Microclimate Management for High Quality Louisiana-Grown Tea Evaluation of the Effects of Raw Poultry and Cattle Manure Application in the Production of Bell Pepper and Radish Crops with Two Different Land Application Methods on Productive Indicators, Soil Health, Fertility, and Food Safety Indicators Examine the Application of Organic Friendly Antimicrobial Agents Such as Propionic and Lactic Acid Against Microbial Risks on Specialty Crops Cold Plasma Reduction of Microbial Loads and Maintenance of Fresh Produce Quality Retention Development of Sustainable Nanoparticle Coating Materials to Reduce Sweetpotato Postharvest Deterioration and Maintain Market Quality Apprenticeship Project for Growing New Beekeepers in Louisiana Application of combined MAP with UV-C to Reduce Microbial Loads and Extend Strawberries’ Shelf Life Promoting Louisiana-grown Pecans – Phase 2 Developing Practices to Minimize the Food Safety Risk Associated with Cryptosporidium on Specialty Crops Biopolymer-based Active Coatings Combined with Rosemary Extract to enhance Produce Safety Best Practices to Reduce Heavy Metals in Louisiana Sweetpotatoes for Increased Competitiveness and Food Safety Introduction of Youth and Producers to Sustainable Watermelon Farming Utilizing Local Agricultural Byproducts Expanding Hustle and Grow Youth Education Program: Promoting Urban Farming and Increased Access to Specialty Crops in Additional Schools Develop and Validate a Low-Cost Produce Washing Setup for Small and Medium Scale Growers Intensive Protected Structure Production and Fruit Quality Evaluation of Southern Highbush Blueberries and Primocane Blackberries and Raspberries Documenting the Impact of 2, 4-D Choline and Gluosinate on Sweetpotato Growth and Yield as Influenced by Reduced Rate and Growth State Louisiana Strawberry Industry Consumer Awareness Program Promoting Louisiana-grown Pecans Advertising Campaign to Increase Louisiana Specialty Crop Sales and Improve Consumer shopping behaviors affected by Pandemic-Related Conditions Enhancing Food Safety Awareness and Market Opportunity of Specialty Crop Producers through Good Agricultural Practices Water Testing Management to Help Specialty Crop Growers to Meet Federal and Market-driven Requirements Louisiana Container-Grown Citrus Best Management Practices to Support an Industry Soil Health Benefits of Nonfumigant Nematicides in Sweet Potato Production in Louisiana Evaluation of Organic-based Fertilizers and Herbicides for Louisiana Lawns Develop an Effective Management Program for Fireblight and Rust Diseases in Mayhaw Production Assess the Efficacy of Antimicrobial Properties of Turmeric Extract-loaded Nano-emulsion in reducing Pathogen Loads Evaluation of Plant-based Antimicrobial Formulation on Control of Damping-off and Other Diseases in Vegetable Seedlings Kelly Ransome, Program Administrator SCBG@ldaf.

state. la. us Copy to Clipboard Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program USDA Non-Discrimination Statement