Kansas Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is a federal grant opportunity provided by the USDA to state departments of agriculture 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; and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops including floriculture.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture is expected to receive $325,000 from the USDA to fund projects to enhance the competitiveness of the Kansas specialty crop industry. Projects of particular interest to KDA are those that explore improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems, increasing nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops, and specialty crop research.

Applicants must be a legal entity and have the legal capacity to contract. Applications for grant funds should show how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.

Who can apply? Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners. Other organizations that are encouraged to apply for these grants are schools, colleges and universities, extension programs, and research institutions.

Applicants may apply for up to $100,000 for a specific project with a duration of up to three years. Matching funds are not required.

Apply through the Kansas Department of Agriculture's online Submittable portal once the annual application period opens: https://kansasdepartmentofagriculture.submittable.com/submit. Steps: (1) download and read the annual Kansas Request for Applications; (2) review the provided application resources; (3) listen to the informational webinars; (4) complete the online application. The FY26 cycle closed April 17, 2026; the FY27 cycle is expected to open in early 2027.