Specialty Crop Block Grants

Input Requested

In an effort to ensure funding is allocated in a way that will maximize impact, Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is required to seek stakeholder input on priorities for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG) annually. When finalized, these priorities will be used to inform the grant making process and funding decisions for the State of Montana’s Specialty Crop Block Grant.

As stakeholders, we are asking you for your insights into the Montana’s specialty crop industry. What are the challenges and opportunities? Where are funds most needed to make the greatest impact?

Feedback, questions, comments and concerns should be sent via email to scbg@mt.gov. To ensure that your comments are considered, feedback must be received by November 19, 2018.   

Revised priorities will be printed in the 2018 SCBG Request for Proposals which will be posted at scbg.mt.gov in December.

Below are the priorities developed for the 2017 SCBG funding cycle.

Providing Farmer Education on Specialty Crop

Farm to institution practices
Value-added production
Disease and pest management
Farm and food safety
Organic production
Use of beneficial organisms
Business development

Supporting Research in the areas of Specialty Crop

Disease and pest management
Variety testing and selection
Organic production
Use of beneficial organisms

Planning and supporting Infrastructures that create or support Specialty Crop

Storage
Processing
Farm to institute
Pest management assistance for farmers

Increasing Consumer Awareness of the Value of Specialty Crops through

Education
Market Development

Representing a Geographic Diversity of Projects across the State

**Funding Cycle Closed - Check Back in December 2018**

The Montana Department of Agriculture is pleased to present the Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG). The purpose of this program is solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Montana. For purposes of the program, specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, peas and lentils, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

2018 Application Materials

• SCBG Request for Proposals Manual - to guide applicants through the Grant Proposal process.
• Applicant Self-Assessment
• Application Narrative Revised 2/1/18*
• Budget Narrative

*In the application narrative, question 3 under Continuation Project Info was revised from "What was earned..." to "What was learned..."

Other Referenced Items

• Expected Measurable Outcomes
• Notes on Select Cost Items
• Previously Funded Projects

Submitting a Grant Proposal

All applications must be submitted through fundingmt.org. The instructions below outline the basic procedures of operating the Webgrants system.

The below documents provide guidance on navigating the Webgrants system: 

Registering for fundingmt.org
Webgrants quick navigation
Starting a grant application

Questions regarding funding.mt.gov should be directed to the SCBG Program Manager.

Program Priorities

Providing Farmer Education on Specialty Crop:

• Farm to institution practices
• Value-added production
• Disease and pest management
• Farm and food safety
• Organic and non-organic food production
• Use of beneficial organisms
• Business development

Supporting Research in the areas of Specialty Crop:

• Disease and pest management
• Variety testing and selection
• Organic and non-organic food production
• Use of beneficial organisms

Planning and supporting Infrastructures that create or support Specialty Crop:

• Storage
• Processing
• Farm to institute
• Pest management assistance for farmers

Increasing Consumer Awareness of the Value of Specialty Crops through:

• Education
• Market Development

Representing a Geographic Diversity of Projects Across the State

Refer to the tabs below for additional information on eligibility, the application process, grant management resources, and grant compliance resources.

Technical Assistance

SCBG Question and Answer Call One:

Monday, February 5, 2018 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM MST
Call: 406-444-4647
Access code: 124983

SCBG Question and Answer Call Two:

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM MST
Call: 406-444-4647
Access code: 522877

2018 SCBG Frequently Asked Questions (Updated 12/18/17)

Eligibility

Definition of Specialty Crops

The Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act of 2004 and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 have defined specialty crops as "fruits and vegetables, peas and lentils, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture)."

Eligible plants must be intensively cultivated and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered specialty crops. Processed products shall constitute greater than 50% of the specialty crop by weight, exclusive of added water.

Eligible Entities

Entities eligible for applying for SCBG funds are:

• state and/or local organizations
• government entities
• producer associations
• academia
• community based organizations
• other specialty crop stakeholders.

Eligible Projects

To be eligible for a grant, the project(s) must solely enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets. Projects must also benefit more than one commercial product (e.g., ABC Company brand), organization, or individual.

Examples of enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops include, but are not limited to: research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, "buy local" programs, increased consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development, and developing cooperatives.

MDA encourages applicants to develop projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry: increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chains in developing "Good Agricultural Practices", "Good Handling Practices", "Good Manufacturing Practices", and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers and processors; investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes; enhancing food safety; developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; pest and disease control; and development of organic and sustainable production practices.

Program Purpose

The purpose of this program is solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Montana pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry:

• enhancing food safety;
• improving the capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain to comply with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act, for example, by developing “Good Agricultural Practices,” “Good Handling Practices,” “Good Manufacturing Practices,” and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers and processors;
• investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes;
• developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops;
• pest and disease control;
• increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops;
• improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems and;
• sustainability.

For purposes of the program, specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, peas and lentils, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

Refer to the tabs below for additional information on eligibility, the application process, grant management resources, and grant compliance resources.

Grant Management

Successful applicants (Grantees) will typically be notified by October.

Grantee Requirements

In general, grantees are expected to:

• To sign a Grant Award Agreement with the MDA indicating their intention to complete the proposed tasks and authorizing MDA to monitor the progress of the proposed project;
• To regularly report on grant activities and financials, using provided templates; and
• To manage the grant financial records and documentation to ensure SCBG funds are being used for their intended purpose in compliance with Federal cost principles and regulations. Guidance on grant management is provided below.

Grant Management

To help Grantees with management, MDA has provided the following guidance:

• 2018 SCBG Grant Management Manual (pdf)
• 2018 SCBG Grant Management Manual-Tracked Changes (pdf)
• 2016 SCBG Grant Management Manual (pdf)
• 2015 SCBG Grant Management Manual (pdf)    
• SCBG Risk Evaluation Matrix (xlsx)

Funds

The following templates are provided for SCBG Grantees:

• W9 (must be submitted prior to first payment request) (docx)

Amendments

Project amendment forms are being updated. Contact the SCBG Coordinator for additional information.

Reporting Schedule

2015 Grantees

Must complete reports through the WebGrants system at www.fundingmt.org. The above reporting documents may be used as templates for completing reports prior to entering information into WebGrants.

Grant Compliance

Federal

• Specialty Crop Act of 2014 7 USC 1621 Note
• Specialty Crop Block Grant - Farm Bill 7 CFR 1291
• Uniform Administrative Requirements 2 CFR 200

Grant Terms & Conditions

• Grants Awarded October 2017
• Grants Awarded October 2016
• Grants Awarded October 2015

Frequently Cited State Policies

• State Travel Policy MOM 142
• State Record Retention Schedules (5 years after the end of MDA's grant)