USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative

USDA Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative promotes industry improvements

Through the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to provide additional support to and increase the competitiveness of the specialty crops sector. The effort is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s... more »

Specialty crop groups outline Farm Bill requests

A group of speakers representing the specialty crop industry told a U.S. Senate subcommittee their Farm Bill 2023 requests, including a workable crop insurance program, research funding, and focus on organics and trade. The June... more »

IFPA outlines Farm Bill priorities, from tech to food safety

The International Fresh Produce Association supports recommendations delivered to Capitol Hill by the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), including funding for produce prescriptions, specialty crop research and to help produce companies comply with food... more »

$48.1M in funding available for specialty crop research

USDA' National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) released details on up to $48.1 million in available funding to support systems-based research and extension activities to accelerate science-based solutions and new technology for the specialty... more »

WSU research for specialty crops boosted by $1.7 million

More than $1.7 million was awarded to Washington State University for specialty crop research including berries, potatoes, grapes, tree fruit, onions, carrots and Christmas trees, the Washington State Department of Agriculture announced Oct. 15 WSU... more »

UC Davis wins specialty-crops grant for lettuce project

Improving lettuce crops is the aim of a new, $4.5 million grant, awarded to University of California, Davis, researchers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The five-year, renewable grant... more »