January 8 Deadline for Specialty Crop Marketing Assistance Program

In a number that is larger than I expected, data from the recently released 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture show that farms specializing in specialty crops accounted for 10 percent of all farm operations. Most of the counties involved are in States along the west and east coasts and in or near metropolitan areas. Half of the counties with the highest concentration of farms primarily engaged in growing specialty crops were in California, New York, Florida, and New Jersey.

Definitions first. What is a specialty crop? The farm bill defines specialty crops as, “Fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”

With that in mind, a timely update from the Farm Service Agency…

Their $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops Program is now accepting applications through January 8. The goal of the program is to help specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs.

FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says, “We can expand U.S. specialty crop consumption and markets by providing specialty crop producers the financial support they need to help them engage in activities that broaden and enhance strategies and opportunities for marketing their commodities.”

For information, go to fsa.usda.gov.