Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 21 0003
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Farm Bill is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity for fiscal year 2021 that funds state-level projects designed to strengthen and expand the competitiveness of specialty crops. In practice, this means AMS provides grant dollars to eligible State departments of agriculture, and those state agencies support projects that improve how specialty crops are produced, marketed, distributed, and sustained in the marketplace. The program is focused on broad, industry-benefiting outcomes rather than direct aid to individual businesses, with an emphasis on efforts that create lasting improvements for specialty crop sectors.
Funding for this solicitation comes from two main sources. First, there is roughly $72.9 million in annual Farm Bill funding available (not counting AMS administrative costs). Second, Congress provided an additional $97 million in one-time supplemental funding in response to COVID-19 disruptions to the food system; in the announcement, this extra amount is labeled as H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding. Together, these funds are intended to help states address both ongoing competitiveness needs and pandemic-related challenges affecting specialty crop supply chains, markets, and operational resilience.
Eligibility to apply is limited to State governments, specifically eligible State departments of agriculture. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.170, with an expected total of 112 awards. The notice does not specify an award ceiling (it is listed as 0), which typically signals that award sizes are determined by formula, state allocations, or program guidance rather than a single published cap in the summary field. The overall purpose remains consistent across the funding sources: support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
AMS also signals clear priority populations and policy goals. The agency encourages applications that deliver meaningful benefits to smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities. For proposals that aim to serve these groups, AMS stresses that applicants should actively engage the intended beneficiaries during project design and application development, rather than treating them as a passive audience. This expectation points to an emphasis on stakeholder-driven project planning, practical relevance, and equitable outcomes.
Administrative details in the announcement identify the funding opportunity as "Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill" (Funding Opportunity Number USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 21 0003), created April 13, 2021, with an original application deadline of June 11, 2021. The administering agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, and the funding instrument type is a grant within the agriculture activity category.Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 21 0003
- The Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.170.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 13, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2021 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 112 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Farm Bill (FY 2021) FAQs
What is the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Farm Bill?
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Farm Bill is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity for fiscal year 2021. It funds state-level projects intended to strengthen and expand the competitiveness of specialty crops.
What does "strengthen and expand the competitiveness of specialty crops" mean in this program?
Based on the notice, this refers to projects that improve how specialty crops are produced, marketed, distributed, and sustained in the marketplace. The focus is on improvements that benefit the broader specialty crop sector, not on providing direct aid to individual businesses.
Who is the administering federal agency for this opportunity?
The administering agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Who is eligible to apply for SCBGP - Farm Bill funding?
Eligibility to apply is limited to State governments, specifically eligible State departments of agriculture. The program provides grant dollars to those state agencies, which then support projects within their states.
Can an individual farm, company, or nonprofit apply directly to USDA AMS under this opportunity?
Not under the eligibility described in the notice. The announcement states that USDA AMS provides grant dollars to eligible State departments of agriculture, indicating that applications to AMS are submitted by those state agencies rather than individual businesses or organizations.
What types of projects does SCBGP - Farm Bill support?
The notice describes projects designed to improve specialty crop production, marketing, distribution, and long-term sustainability in the marketplace, with an emphasis on lasting improvements for specialty crop sectors and broad, industry-benefiting outcomes.
Is the program intended to provide direct financial assistance to individual businesses?
No. The program is described as focused on broad, industry-benefiting outcomes rather than direct aid to individual businesses.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.170.
Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. The notice describes it as a discretionary grant program.
How much funding is available under this solicitation?
The notice identifies two funding sources: approximately $72.9 million in annual Farm Bill funding (excluding AMS administrative costs), and an additional $97 million in one-time supplemental funding provided by Congress to respond to COVID-19 disruptions, labeled in the announcement as H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding.
Why is there supplemental funding labeled H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding?
The notice states that Congress provided a one-time supplemental amount in response to COVID-19 disruptions to the food system. The intent is to help states address pandemic-related challenges affecting specialty crop supply chains, markets, and operational resilience.
How are the Farm Bill funds and the H.R. 133 stimulus funds intended to be used?
Together, the notice indicates these funds are intended to support ongoing competitiveness needs for specialty crops while also addressing COVID-19-related disruptions to the specialty crop sector.
How many awards does USDA AMS expect to make?
The announcement lists an expected total of 112 awards.
Is there a maximum (ceiling) award amount listed?
The notice does not specify an award ceiling; it is listed as 0 in the summary field. As described in the opportunity information, this typically indicates award sizes are determined by formula, state allocations, or program guidance rather than a single published cap in the summary field.
What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is agriculture.
Which populations or groups does AMS prioritize for meaningful benefits?
AMS encourages applications that deliver meaningful benefits to smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.
If a project aims to serve priority populations, what does AMS expect during project design?
The notice states that applicants should actively engage the intended beneficiaries during project design and application development, rather than treating them as a passive audience. This signals an emphasis on stakeholder-driven planning and practical relevance.
What is the overall purpose of the program across both funding sources?
The notice indicates the purpose remains consistent across the annual Farm Bill funding and the H.R. 133 supplemental funding: to support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
What is the official funding opportunity name and number?
The official name is "Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill." The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 21 0003.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The notice lists the opportunity as created on April 13, 2021.
What was the original application deadline?
The notice lists an original application deadline of June 11, 2021.
At what level are projects funded and administered?
The notice describes this as a state-level approach: USDA AMS provides funding to eligible State departments of agriculture, and those state agencies support projects that improve the specialty crop sector within their states.
What kinds of outcomes does the program emphasize?
The emphasis is on broad outcomes that benefit the specialty crop industry and create lasting improvements for specialty crop sectors, rather than one-off or business-specific assistance.
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