The USDA is offering more than $275 million in grant funding for specialty crop growers during the fiscal year (FY) 2026, as revealed at a Michigan event attended by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Representative Tom Barrett.
The grant funding will come through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP), with funding levels boosted thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, the USDA shared in a press release.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture administers the SCRI, which will use at least $20 million to fund research into specialty crop automation with the goal of reducing labor costs. The Agricultural Marketing Service will implement the other two programs and fund projects to enhance the market competitiveness of specialty crop growers through education, marketing, and research support.
This year, the USDA will provide $175 million as part of the SCRI, compared to $80 million last year, due to the Working Families Tax Cuts. Additionally, SCBGP and SCMP levels were raised from $85 million to $100 million in FY2026.
“The Working Families Tax Cuts provided the largest investment in American agriculture, including boosting support for America’s specialty crop producers, at a time when more Americans are demanding whole, nutritious foods aligned with the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. At USDA, we are ensuring the farmers who grow these foods have the tools necessary to continue their operations,” Rollins said in a press release.
Barrett added, “I was proud to deliver tax relief and real investments for Michigan agriculture in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, including in research, education, and marketing for our state’s many specialty crops. ... These investments will ensure Michigan farms stay on the cutting edge as they grow crops to feed America and the world.”
Do specialty crop growers need more support?
This support is on top of the USDA’s Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program, which provides $1 billion to the industry to manage market volatility in 2025.
However, some specialty crop stakeholders think more support is needed. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is advocating for a dedicated $5 billion package to support specialty crop growers to offset geopolitical factors, market challenges, and harsh winters.
“The adversity facing our industry has never been greater, and it is essential that the Administration strengthen and expand support for our specialty crop growers. Specialty crops account for one-third of all U.S. crop sales and should receive no less than one-third of any agricultural aid package. That is why we continue to call on Congress for a dedicated aid package for specialty crops of not less than $5 billion, with clear guidance for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to structure the program after President Trump’s highly successful CFAP-2 program. The future of America’s specialty crop industry depends on meaningful, proportionate support,” the group stated in a March press release.
