Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) — South Dakota

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), administered in South Dakota by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) with USDA Agricultural Marketing Service funds, awards competitive grants that enhance the competitiveness of South Dakota specialty crops — fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture/nursery crops including floriculture. Funds support projects that increase consumption, expand market access, improve food safety, address pest and disease control, advance environmental sustainability, develop new seed varieties, and expand research and development.

Non-federal stakeholders in the South Dakota specialty crop industry, including state, local, or tribal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, research institutions and institutions of higher education, for-profit businesses, and individual producers. Awards run on a three-year period of performance (FY2026 projects: Sept 30, 2026 – Sept 29, 2029).

Project budgets are explicitly not capped. The 2026 RFP: "Project budgets funded under the South Dakota Specialty Crop Block Grant Program are not capped but projects under $75,000 are given priority." So there is no published award ceiling or floor — the $75,000 figure is a priority threshold, not a limit.

Pool and historical award sizes. "Amount Available: Up to $325,000" for South Dakota projects. "Pending federal funding, an estimated $325,000 will be available for 2026 projects in South Dakota. Awards in previous years have ranged from $5,000 - $150,000. In 2025 DANR awarded $299,087.00 to four projects at an average of $74,771.75." Across 2018–2025 DANR reports 59 projects funded and $3,207,856 total awarded.

Match / cost share. None. "Subrecipients are not required to provide cost-share or matching funds to supplement funds awarded by SD DANR through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program."

Indirect costs. "Indirect costs are capped at 8% of the total proposed project budget." For-profit entities generally do not receive funds for indirect costs.

Term. Three-year period of performance: Sept. 30, 2026 – Sept. 29, 2029, and "Extension beyond September 29, 2029 will not be available." Projects may propose a shorter period.

How you get paid. Reimbursement, not advance: "Project costs incurred by subrecipients will be paid as reimbursements by SD DANR," with requests submitted "on a quarterly basis" accompanied by cost documentation. Pre-award costs are allowable only within 90 days before 9/30/2026 and only with written DANR permission. DANR "reserves the right to offer subrecipient projects an award amount less than requested in the project proposal."

Cost limits to watch. Special-purpose equipment over $10,000 per unit only for research/scientific/technical use; supplies must be under $10,000 per unit and itemized. Not funded: supplanting existing funding, debt or fines, capital expenditures for buildings or land, alcohol and entertainment, fundraising or lobbying, and promotional costs that create an unfair competitive advantage.

Verified 2026-09-04 against the 2026 DANR SCBG RFP PDF.

Submit a complete application packet (Application Cover Sheet, Project Profile Template, plus project and budget narratives) as a fillable PDF electronically to DANR; a SAM.gov Unique Entity Identification number is required. FY2026 applications were due March 22, 2026, 11:59 PM CT with grants awarded September 2026; the program recurs annually with roughly $325,000 available to South Dakota. RFP and forms at danr.sd.gov.