Nearly a year after winning the decades-long battle to gain more federal funding for specialty crops, industry groups and businesses throughout the state have the opportunity to apply for part of a $526,675 block grant from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.
Included in the 2008 Farm Bill, which passed in June 2008, is a specialty crop grant that provides federal funds to businesses and industry entities to promote the production, processing and use of specialty crops, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture defines as "fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture."
In North Dakota, those specialty crops include dry beans, lentils, dry peas, potatoes, grapes, honey and various vegetables.
Allocated to the nationwide program for 2009 is $49 million, which represents a five-fold increase from previous specialty crop grants a fact that has not gone unnoticed by state commodity groups.
"We are excited and think it's a wonderful program that gives us the ability to do things on behalf of the industry that we couldn't do alone," said Chuck Gunnerson, president of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, which represents producers in North Dakota and Minnesota.
Although the two states are the third-largest potato growing region in the U.S., they are not known widely for that commodity a fact that might change under the new program.
"It gives us the ability to get the word out through our marketing vehicles of the value, quality and nutrition of North Dakota and Minnesota potatoes which will benefit us and the region."
