The texas department of agriculture will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers with research and…

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded the Texas Department of Agriculture $1.714 million on September 30, 2025, under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170) to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through marketing, research, development, and grower support activities across Texas through September 29, 2028.

The recipient passes funding to nine sub-awarded projects targeting pecans, microgreens, onions, and grapes. Texas A&M AgriLife Research improves watermelon seed germination and seedling vigor by addressing physical and physiological inhibiting factors in triploid watermelon; studies water-use efficiency and short-day onion germplasm for drought tolerance in collaboration with growers and seed industry partners. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service partners with four industry organizations to evaluate viticultural characteristics, profitability, enological properties, and wine quality of five pecan-disease-resistant grape varieties with grower cooperators and conducts field experiments to determine feasibility, weed control efficacy, and crop safety of electrical weed control in Texas pecan. Tarleton State University purchases equipment to create a pecan cracking and shelling facility supporting growers and industry partners with value-added opportunities and innovation. Sam Houston State University trains Texas youth in microgreens production, harvesting, storage techniques, nutritional benefits, economic analysis, and digital marketing strategies to develop profitable and sustainable microgreens businesses. The Texas Center for Local Food leads the Farmer-Led Online Education for Specialty Crop Collaborative Distribution project by building online courses and providing technical assistance.

Performance occurs across Texas. The award is a block grant obligating $1.714 million.

The texas department of agriculture 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. The state's sub-awards include 5 research projects, 2 education and outreach projects, and 2 marketing projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops including pecans, microgreens, onions and grapes throughout the state of texas.