Kentucky Opens Specialty Crop Grant Program for 2026

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell announced Wednesday that the proposal window for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is now open.

Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticultural products, nursery crops (including floriculture), and honey. For a full list, interested applicants can visit ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop.

“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,” Commissioner 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.”

Applicants must explain how their project will impact the specialty crop industry and/or the public while delivering measurable results. Eligible applicants include privately owned companies, small business owners, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and quasi-government entities such as public universities. All projects depend on available funding.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) will not award funding to projects that solely benefit a specific commercial product or generate profit for a single organization, institution, or individual.

According to a recent survey of Kentucky specialty crop industry experts, 2026 funding priorities include pest and disease control; specialty crop research, particularly in conservation and environmental outcomes; improving distribution efficiency while reducing costs; and strengthening food safety.

Additional project areas may include sustainability, developing proper agricultural handling and manufacturing practices, creating new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops, and increasing nutrition awareness and consumption among children and adults.

Applicants must submit preliminary proposals using the form available at kyagr.com/marketing/documents/SC_Concept_Proposal.pdf and email them to Anne Harney at [email protected] by 4:30 p.m. EDT on May 11, 2026.

Qualified applicants will receive notification and an invitation to submit a full grant application.

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