Specialty Crop Grant

Celia Gould, who is the Director  of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture says the ISDA is looking for quality projects that will have a significant and lasting impact on Idaho’s specialty crop industry and the evaluation committee will be looking for feasible proposals that will benefit a great number of producers with a good return on investment. Just in the event that you are unsure about what qualifies as a specialty crop, here is Lacey Menasco, Trade Specialist in the Market Development Division of the Department of Agriculture. “Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture…even cut flowers. Potatoes and onions are some of the big specialty crops in Idaho as well as all of our fruit trees.”

 There are 3 criteria to get a grant. You have to be: 

• Innovative – introduce a new idea, method or equipment to improve Idaho agriculture.

• Equitable –assisting as many specialty crop producers and meeting as many industry needs as possible

• Meaningful – indicating that the funding is used in a way that’s effective;.. results- oriented; focuses on critical needs; rewards collaborative efforts; and makes good business sense.  

All details at agri.idaho.gov