The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded $349,025 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Funds for the program are presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is to increase opportunities for specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” The Kansas Department of Agriculture has selected other recipients to further utilize the funds.
The following is a list of Kansas projects that will be funded by the grant:
-
Children First: CEO Kansas Inc., Fresh Food Matters, $61,512.00 — Educate low-income children and youth about specialty crops, as well as host six farm-to-table lunch events to provide knowledge about specialty crops to those living in low-income neighborhoods.
-
Kansas State University, Taking the Next Step in Pulse Crop Development for Kansas, $74,866.00 — Partner with Kansas State University to identify genetic markers in field peas for heat stress tolerance relevant to Kansas growing conditions, as well as identify germplasm useful in breeding pea varieties.
-
North Central Regional Planning Commission, Expanding Production and Markets of Fruits and Vegetables in North Central Kansas, $39,750.00 — Expand north central Kansas growth-oriented fruit and vegetable growers and expand the local market for production through grocers.
-
Extension Education Foundation, Inc., Growing Specialty Crop Producers in South Central Kansas, $33,707.00 — Implement a regionally-appropriate Growing Growers program in South Central Kansas and Sedgwick County.
-
Kansas State University, Expansion of Blueberry Production in Kansas Add storywith Greenhouse and High Tunnel Methods, $33,707.00 — Evaluate two different hydroponic systems for greenhouse production of six different blueberry cultivars to determine yield and water use compared to traditional production techniques.
-
Kansas Department of Agriculture, KDA Education Program: Great Lakes Expo Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market, $35,527.62 — Provide a continuing education opportunity for specialty crop growers to attend the Great Lakes Expo located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in December 2018.
-
Kansas State University, Growing the Vegetable Producers Community with a Specialty Crop Growers Association, $36,158.00 — Renovate the existing Kansas Vegetable Growers Association into the Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association by conducting statewide educational outreach and establishment of a web and social media presence.
For more information about the Specialty Crop Block Grant program, including expanded summaries of this year’s recipients, visit agriculture.ks.gov/specialtycropblockgrant.
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Horton man arrested following weekend shooting
Hiawatha man facing sex, drug charges waives prelim hearing
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Jackson Co crash confirmed as fatality
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Two arrested Thursday in Jackson Co on meth-related charges
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
One held for past Atchison shooting
Inmate dies at Lansing Correctional Facility
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
Mound City Mayor Duane Nauman remembered
MO grass fire battled Thursday
Community Healthcare System hires new CEO
Brown Co Planning Commission established
Falls City School Board approves personnel moves and purchases
Valley Falls' future set for Wednesday eve discussion
LATEST STORIES
Jackson Co crash confirmed as fatality
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Rates to increase at Brown Co landfill
NOAA weather radio event set in Seneca
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison