CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline to apply for FY 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBG) to March 10. The grants are handed out by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) annually to enhance the production, processing, and consumption of specialty crops in the Mountain State. In FY 2024, eight West Virginia agribusinesses were awarded a total of $301,000 in SCBG.
“Here in West Virginia, we don’t have a lot of large-scale agriculture operations outside of the poultry and cattle industries. Ninety-eight percent of West Virginia farms are family owned and operated,” explained Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “Many of our farmers, whether they know it or not, grow or produce SCBG-qualifying products. These grants can be a game-changer for farmers and producers looking to expand their agribusinesses or research ways they can move into the specialty crop market.”
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is funded by the USDA and administered by the WVDA. Recipients have two years to plan, implement, and gather data on their respective projects. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.
In FY 2023, Sunset Berry Farm, in Monroe County, received $74,825 in SCBG funding to test market freeze-dried fruits they grew on their farm. Fast forward two years, the farm is now selling their products to West Virginia school systems through the Farm 2 School program.
In FY 2022, Grow Ohio Valley used part of a $61,110 SCBG to invest in a youth entrepreneurship program. Budding Wheeling, for youth 13-17, now teaches participants farming and business skills running their own flower farming business.
Application, instructions, and other information for SCBG can be found at https://agriculture.wv.gov/ag-business/specialty-crop-block-grant/. Applications are due no later than March 10, 2025. For more information, contact 304-558-2210 or grants@wvda.us.
