STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Kentucky agriculture officials are opening the door to new projects aimed at strengthening the state’s specialty crop sector. The proposal window for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is now open, Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell announced on April 15.
“With the intention of making Kentucky specialty crops more competitive in domestic and foreign markets, the specialty crop program is seeking application proposals to creatively increase those areas of interest,” Shell said. “While Kentucky’s specialty crop industry already makes up a significant part of the state’s agricultural economy, there’s always room for growth.”
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is administering the state’s share of the federal program and is seeking preliminary proposals from a wide range of applicants, including those from privately owned companies, small business owners, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and quasi-government entities.
Officials say all projects are subject to the availability of funds. The department will not award grants for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or that provide profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Based on a recent survey of Kentucky specialty crop industry experts, funding priorities for 2026 grants include pest and disease control, specialty crop research with an emphasis on conservation and environmental outcomes, improving efficiency and reducing costs in distribution systems, and enhancing food safety.
Preliminary proposals must be submitted using the official form and emailed to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture by 3:30 p.m. on May 11. Qualifying applicants will then be invited to complete a full grant application.
Specialty crops are defined under the program as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticultural products, nursery crops including floriculture, and honey. Barren County ranked 56th in fruit, nut, and berry production, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
Kentucky anticipates receiving $413,908.66 for 2026 as its share of the United States Department of Agriculture’s $86.6 million in Specialty Crop Block Grant funding.
Key Facts
• Kentucky opens proposal window for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
• Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell says goal is to boost competitiveness of specialty crops
• Eligible applicants include private companies, small businesses, nonprofits, and quasi-government entities
• Preliminary proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. EDT on May 11, 2026
• 2026 funding priorities include pest and disease control, research, distribution efficiency, and food safety
• Kentucky expects to receive $413,908.66 from USDA’s $86.6 million national grant pool
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