Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

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Application resources

• 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Request for Applications

• 2024 Louisiana SPCBG Application Packet Checklist   

• Louisiana SCBGP Grant Application Cover Page ( pdf ) ( doc )

• Grantee Self-Assessment of Internal Control and Risks Document  (pdf)  ( doc )

• 2024 Project Profile Template ( pdf )

• SCBGP Performance Measures

• Federal SF-424

Calendar and deadlines 2024

Proposals

Selection process

Award

Reporting

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2023

• Tea Terroir: Tailored Soil Fertility and Microclimate Management for High Quality Louisiana-Grown Tea 

• Evaluation of the Effects of Raw Poultry and Cattle Manure Application in the Production of Bell Pepper and Radish Crops with Two Different Land Application Methods on Productive Indicators, Soil Health, Fertility, and Food Safety Indicators

• Examine the Application of Organic Friendly Antimicrobial Agents Such as Propionic and Lactic Acid Against Microbial Risks on Specialty Crops

• Cold Plasma Reduction of Microbial Loads and Maintenance of Fresh Produce Quality Retention 

• Development of Sustainable Nanoparticle Coating Materials to Reduce Sweetpotato Postharvest Deterioration and Maintain Market Quality

2022

• Apprenticeship Project for Growing New Beekeepers in Louisiana

• Application of combined MAP with UV-C to Reduce Microbial Loads and Extend Strawberries’ Shelf Life

• Promoting Louisiana-grown Pecans – Phase 2

• Developing Practices to Minimize the Food Safety Risk Associated with Cryptosporidium on Specialty Crops

• Biopolymer-based Active Coatings Combined with Rosemary Extract to enhance Produce Safety

• Best Practices to Reduce Heavy Metals in Louisiana Sweetpotatoes for Increased Competitiveness and Food Safety

2021

• Introduction of Youth and Producers to Sustainable Watermelon Farming Utilizing Local Agricultural Byproducts

• Expanding Hustle and Grow Youth Education Program: Promoting Urban Farming and Increased Access to Specialty Crops in Additional Schools

• Develop and Validate a Low-Cost Produce Washing Setup for Small and Medium Scale Growers

• Intensive Protected Structure Production and Fruit Quality Evaluation of Southern Highbush Blueberries and Primocane Blackberries and Raspberries

• Documenting the Impact of 2, 4-D Choline and Gluosinate on Sweetpotato Growth and Yield as Influenced by Reduced Rate and Growth State

• Louisiana Strawberry Industry Consumer Awareness Program

• Promoting Louisiana-grown Pecans

2021 H.R. 133 Stimulus

• Advertising Campaign to Increase Louisiana Specialty Crop Sales and Improve Consumer shopping behaviors affected by Pandemic-Related Conditions

2020

• Enhancing Food Safety Awareness and Market Opportunity of Specialty Crop Producers through Good Agricultural Practices

• Water Testing Management to Help Specialty Crop Growers to Meet Federal and Market-driven Requirements

• Louisiana Container-Grown Citrus Best Management Practices to Support an Industry

• Soil Health Benefits of Nonfumigant Nematicides in Sweet Potato Production in Louisiana

• Evaluation of Organic-based Fertilizers and Herbicides for Louisiana Lawns

• Develop an Effective Management Program for Fireblight and Rust Diseases in Mayhaw Production

• Assess the Efficacy of Antimicrobial Properties of Turmeric Extract-loaded Nano-emulsion in reducing Pathogen Loads

• Evaluation of Plant-based Antimicrobial Formulation on Control of Damping-off and Other Diseases in Vegetable Seedlings

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How to apply

To nominate yourself as a potential reviewer, complete and sign the reviewer application form and e-mail it as an attachment to mestay@ldaf.state.la.us .

About specialty crops

“Specialty Crops” are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. See the USDA list of specialty crops . (includes common specialty crops as well as ineligible commodities).

Eligibility

We invite nominations of qualified individuals active in the specialty crop industry, academia, and public sectors to establish a professionally diverse Review Panel. Members of the Review Panel will review, evaluate, and make recommendations to LDAF on submitted Louisiana Specialty Crop Block Grant Program proposals.

Reviewers should have:

• Knowledge of specialty crops and/or grant writing or grant management experience

• The ability to devote the necessary time to complete the review process

Reviewers will be appointed by the Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry.

What to expect

If appointed as a reviewer, you will provide your time and service as a volunteer with no compensation. You will not be allowed to submit a grant proposal while serving on the Review Panel.

1. Reviewers will be notified each year, in March, of their selection to serve on the Review Panel.

2. If selected as a Reviewer, we will provide you with electronic copies of all qualifying grant proposals. You will get approximately two weeks in which to evaluate them. (Printed copies available upon request).

3. You will score all proposals and submit your evaluations to the grant administrator. This review includes at least two comments for each proposal.

4. The grant administrator will compile the scores from all the reviewers to submit to the Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry for consideration of inclusion in Louisiana’s State Plan.

Responsibilities

Reviewers will be:

1. Dedicated to high quality, fair reviews, and be able to devote sufficient time to the review process.

2. Able to utilize their knowledge and expertise to evaluate grant proposals and provide scores and written comments about proposals.

3. Objective and impartial.

4. Free of organization, project, or racial biases.

5. Able to maintain confidentiality.

6. Forthcoming in declaring conflicts of interest.

Reviewers should be knowledgeable of how to objectively evaluate and assess grant proposals for objectives, work plans, budgeting, and expected results in determining the potential for project success. Reviewers must write comments to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each application.

The review criteria are specific to the LDAF SCBGP, meet the needs of the specialty crop stakeholders’ priorities identified by outreach activities, and LDAF goals and objectives. Reviewers score proposals against the evaluation criteria. Reviewers do not choose the proposals funded through LDAF and the USDA.

Reviewers must sign the Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality Form and return to the LDAF Grant Administrator. The confidentiality policy requires that Reviewers refrain from sharing with anyone the comments, scores, recommendations, selections, or non-selections made before, during, or after the LDAF SCBGP proposal review process. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), applicants may request a copy of the materials documenting the Grant Reviewer’s evaluation/comments of their application. Applicants are entitled to this information. In these situations, reviewers’ information is removed from the evaluation/comments.

Contact info

Michelle Estay, Director of Commodity Promotion and Research

(985) 345-9483
estay@ldaf.state.la.us