The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has announced nearly $560,000 in the Fiscal Year 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding to Maine.

This USDA grant aims to help the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry fund projects ranging from managing soil-borne diseases in potato production through integrated soil improvement to drought stress management for wild blueberry growers.

“These grants focus on supply, demand, infrastructure, and advancing research that will allow farmers to enhance markets, adjust production practices and increase climate resiliency,” said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal, according to a news release from the Augusta-based department. “Making investments like this that enhance Maine’s food system is essential to ensuring access to more markets and supporting the Governor’s Climate Action Plan to increase local food production from 10% to 30% by 2030.”

“The funded programs will be invaluable to increasing the successes of our farmers and food producers and broadening the market for specialty crops here in Maine and across the U.S.,” said Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources Director Nancy McBrady. “The SCBGP supports local and regional needs of farmers and producers to help them become more competitive now and in the future.”

Program funding will allow Maine researchers and producers to advance vital knowledge to enhance markets, adjust production practices and increase climate resiliency, with particular emphasis on two of Maine’s iconic crops, the wild blueberry and potato.

Specific Maine projects include:

• Blue Barn, LLC: The Millennial Opportunity — Expanding supply, demand and infrastructure for a new era of Maine wild blueberry sparkling wine — $100,000;
• Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association — Maine Produce Safety Improvement Project III — $91,806;
• Maine Potato Board — Investigating cultural practices to improve integrated pest management practices for potato viruses. (Year two of three) — $83,705;
• Dr. Seanna Annis, University of Maine — Improving leaf spot management to enhance wild blueberry health, yield and climate resilience — $93,469;
• Dr. Lily Calderwood, University of Maine — Drought stress management for wild blueberry growers — $63,027;
• Dr. Jianjun Hao, University of Maine — Enhancing the efficacy of managing soil-borne diseases in potato production through integrated soil improvement — $76,280; and
• Dr. Gwendolyn Perry, University of Maine — Fresh Maine Wild Blueberries: Industry, extension, academic collaboration to protect and enhance safety and quality — $50,614.

The department will apply $52,438 of funding to ensure awardees abide by federal and state requirements and regulations by performing pre-award and post-award activities to administer program funding.

Find more information about current and past grant projects at maine.gov.

 

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