Kentucky Department of Agriculture Opens Specialty Crop Grant Applications to Boost Competitiveness
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) has announced the opening of the proposal window for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell emphasized the program's goal to enhance the competitiveness of Kentucky's specialty crops in both domestic and foreign markets. The program invites applications from private companies, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and quasi-government entities. Applicants must demonstrate how their projects will produce measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry or the public. The KDA is managing Kentucky's portion of the $86.6 million grant funding provided by the USDA, with the state expecting to receive $413,908.66 for 2026. The grant aims to support projects that focus on pest and disease control, specialty crop research, distribution efficiency, and food safety. 
