Specialty Crop Block Grant Recipients for Fiscal Year 2023
The following projects were awarded grant funding for 2023:
- Missouri State University – Develop Grower-Friendly Test Kits for Preventing Grapevine Crown Gall Disease - Develop grape grower-friendly test kits for reducing significant losses caused by crown gall disease. - $25,000
- Missouri State University – Genetic Study of Botrytis Bunch Rot Resistance in ‘Norton’ Grape - Exploration of the molecular mechanisms related to Botrytis bunch rot resistance by establishing phenotyping protocols, localizing quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and disseminating results to growers. -$49,353
- University of Missouri – Food Safety Training for Safe and Resilient Food Systems - Provide food safety education and training for beginners, small and medium scale fruit and vegetable processors operating in Missouri. - $44,378
- University of Missouri – Revitalization of Pecan Research and Breeding for Missouri - Revitalize pecan research and breeding at HARC to provide the Missouri pecan industry with reliable performance data and to initiate progress towards the identification and development of new well-adapted, high-yielding cultivars with high-quality kernels, appropriate cold hardiness, early nut ripening, low alternate bearing index, and durable pecan scab resistance. - $47,704
- Springfield Community Gardens – Farmer Trainings to Support Specialty Crop Production in the Ozarks– Provide workshops at four farms concentrating on bio solarization, specialized tilling and soil health, high tunnel growing specifically ventilation, flower farming, and economical season extension. - $49,700
- ArchGen, LLC – Comparative Performance of Commercial and Native Hops in Missouri - Conduct a randomized field trial utilizing four diverse native varietals from the southern range of hop’s distribution along with three commercially known comparatives. - $36,983.91
- University of Missouri – A Statewide Survey Assessing Sweetpotato Safety Due to Soilborne Pathogens - Survey 90 Missouri farms across the state for the presence and severity of Fusarium species in the soils. - $41,767
- University of Missouri – Muscadine Grapes: A Potential New Specialty Crop for Missouri - Evaluate six of the most cold-hardy muscadine cultivars in a southern Missouri location to determine if the newer cold-hardy cultivars can survive or even thrive in the region. - $28,248.36
- The Trailhead Farm – “Reel” Heartland – The Trailhead Farm film project will educate and inspire viewers to grow blueberries, start a farm of heir own, promote other regional farms, teach growing techniques and tips, and about the benefits of eating blueberries. - $30,720.62
- Columbia Farmers Market – Columbia Farmers Market’s Specialty Crop Food Insecure Educational Marketing Campaign- Develop a specialty crop-focused food-insecure educational marketing campaign. - $23,360.06