Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will be awarding grants to 10 Iowa projects to help enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa. The Department received $244,401.98 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to support the program.

“Specialty crops are a very important part of Iowa agriculture as they allow farmers to diversify and give customers access to locally grown products,” Northey said. “These federal funds will support food safety, research, growing, and processing methods that will encourage Iowans to choose fruits, vegetables, nuts and flowers that are produced right here in our state.”

Iowa agricultural non-profit organizations, cooperatives, specialty crop industry associations or organizations, and producer groups were eligible to apply for funding.

Read the full article on the Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune website.