The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (SD DANR) received a $402,137 Specialty Crop Block Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service on September 30, 2021. The grant will support SD DANR's efforts to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in South Dakota through September 29, 2024. Activities will include marketing and promotion assistance, research and development relevant to specialty crops, and expanding availability and access to specialty crops in the state. The funding advances the goals of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program administered under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (CFDA #10.170), which aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through research, promotion, and increasing availability.