MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Funds for the program are awarded to the agency by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

The grant funds are in turn granted to projects and organizations to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by 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. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.”

Applications will be evaluated by a team of external reviewers. The team will rate proposals on their ability to successfully promote specialty crops in Kansas and make a positive impact on the Kansas economy. Those recommendations will be submitted to the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, who will make the final awards.

Applications are due to KDA no later than 5:00 p.m. CST on March 15, 2023. For more information, please download and carefully read the 2023 Kansas Request for Applications from the KDA website: agriculture.ks.gov/specialtycrop.

Specialty Crop Block Grant funding from USDA–AMS is awarded to states based on recent value and acreage of specialty crops in the state. In 2023, Kansas will receive approximately $327,000.

The vision of the Kansas Department of Agriculture is to provide an ideal environment for long-term, sustainable agricultural prosperity and statewide economic growth. The agency will achieve this by advocating for sectors at all levels and providing industry outreach.

STATE

Two subjects arrested and fentanyl seized in Pittsburg

thumb

CRAWFORD COUNTY – The Joint Fentanyl Impact Team (JFIT), made up of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), and Homeland Security Investigations, along with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department,... [More]

UPDATE: Investigation of letters with suspicious white powder

thumb

UPDATE: Investigation of letters with suspicious white powder                                                 ... [More]

SPECIAL: Search continues for missing Parsons man

thumb

UPDATE: Body of missing Parsons man located and two arrested   NEOSHO COUNTY _ The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office located the body of missing 23-year-old Dakota A.... [More]

More State

PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

Pleasanton requests 1-year automatic aid fire extension

thumb

Council opts to bolster fire department during grace period   Continuing what ended in a tabled discussion two weeks ago on whether to keep or dissolve the Pleasanton Fire Department, the council met Monday night at the Community Center and again heard from the public... [More]

Commissioners hear update, discuss aid agreement for Pleasanton FD

thumb

During their May 12 meeting, the commissioners questioned Linn County Rural Fire Chief Randy Hegwald on where the county stood with mutual aid agreements with municipal fire departments, in particular the one for Pleasanton. Commissioner Jim Johnson noted he had received several... [More]

Filing deadline approaches for local seats

thumb

Filing deadline is noon on June 2 for open positions on local city government and school district boards; as well as, for Linn County seats on the Marais des Cygnes K-State Research and Extension district board. Danielle Souza, county clerk, said that candidates can file for... [More]

More News

COMMUNITY

Prairie View FFA captures State Ag Mechanics Championship

thumb

MANHATTAN, KAN. - The Prairie View High School FFA Chapter has secured a remarkable victory at the Kansas FFA State Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event (CDE), demonstrating exceptional technical skills and teamwork that will propel them to the national competition... [More]

Free summer meals for kids age 1 to 18 in Pleasanton

thumb

Faith Chapel Church and the Kansas Food Bank have partnered to provide summer meals for children in Pleasanton as part of the USDA Summer Food Service Program.  Meals will be distributed as a “Grab & Go” each week. Meals will be distributed at the church,... [More]

New rescue seeks donations to aid startup

thumb

A newly formed dog rescue operating from Mound City is on the lookout for donations to help with their startup. Dirt Road Rescue, a 501C3 organization, was founded by core members Melayna Johnson, Megan Purvis, Janet Jackson and Samantha Ekwuru, for the sole mission of saving... [More]

More Community

View Legals for Free Business Directory