Oklahoma Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

• ODAFF administers funding received from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) each year. The amount of funding received by ODAFF is based on specialty crop acreage and production value on an annual basis. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets and must provide a benefit to more than just the applicant. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, culinary herbs, tree nuts, Christmas trees, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Projects will be evaluated on how well they enhance the competitiveness of Oklahoma’s specialty crops, soundness or plan, measurable outcomes and return on investment. Projects may include but are not limited to:

  • Pest and disease control

  • Enhancing food safety

  • Developing new and improved seed varieties

  • Increasing consumption of specialty crops

  • Market development

  • Developing good agricultural handling and manufacturing practices

• Government agencies – local, state and federal

• Non-profit organizations

• For-profit organizations

• Colleges and universities

From ODAFF's FY2026 Grant Application Manual:

• Award range and project length: "SCBG funds may be awarded for projects up to 2 years in duration with funding request ranging from a minimum of $10,000.00 to a maximum of $100,000.00."

• Match — required by Oklahoma even though USDA doesn't: "Although not a requirement from USDA, matching funds, either in cash and/or in-kind contribution of 20% of the total project budget will be required by applicants."

• Indirect costs: "Indirect costs are only allowable as in-kind matching funds under Oklahoma's grant program. Indirect costs should not exceed 8% of any proposed budget."

• You may be funded for less than you ask: "ODAFF reserves the right to offer an award amount less than the amount requested."

• Travel: "Travel to National Conferences or trade association meetings will not be eligible for grant funding. However, travel to grower meetings or conferences within the State will be allowed."

• Letters of support are mandatory: "Proposals must have a letter of support from a minimum of three (3) specialty crop producers in Oklahoma."

• Applicants may submit more than one proposal.

Not a direct-to-farm subsidy. "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." A single grower can be funded only where the results are shared — e.g. demonstrating a practice and publicizing it to other regional growers.

Timeline and a caveat on funding certainty. Proposals are due "5:00 PM Central Time on February 27, 2026"; Oklahoma's State Plan goes to USDA in May 2026 with award announcement expected October 2026. ODAFF's own disclaimer: "USDA has not yet announced funding availability for this year's SCBG... If the funds anticipated for this program are, at any time, unavailable or insufficient, ODAFF is under no obligation to fund project applications."

1. Read the Grant Application Manual carefully as you prepare your application for submission.

2. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, provided at no cost by SAM.gov; this has replaced the previous DUNS number.

3. A minimum of three (3) letters of support must accompany each application. Letters may be sent as an attachment and will not count against the application's page total.

4. Email the completed Specialty Crop Grant Program Application (available below) to Jason Harvey at jason.harvey@ag.ok.gov no later than 5 pm on Friday, February 27, 2026. Applications must be received by the grant deadline; applications that do not meet this deadline will not be accepted.

• Grant Application Manual

• Performance Measures

• Evaluation Sheet

• Request a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number

• Budget Template

• Annual & Final Reports Template

• USDA Specialty Crop information