The iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops assisting producers with…

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) received a $368,970.30 Specialty Crop Block Grant Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (CFDA 10.170) on September 30, 2024. The award will be used to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Iowa over a 3-year period through September 29, 2027. Specifically, IDALS will leverage efforts to market and promote specialty crops, assist producers with research and development, expand availability and access to specialty crops, and address local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers through a variety of projects with their grant recipients. Measurable performance outcomes will be required as evidence of the program's impact.

The iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops expanding availability and access to specialty crops and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers through a variety of activities projects with their grant recipients. Beneficiaries include the residents of iowa. Performance evidence in the form of measurable outcomes is required.