North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced the allocation of 15 grants totaling more than $2.5 million to support research, education, and market development in specialty crops across the state.
The funding, approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS), amounts to $2,503,834.75 for 2025. The grants are distributed using a formula that considers specialty crop acreage and production value. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticultural, and nursery crops, including floriculture.
"North Dakota is already a leading producer of several specialty crops, such as dry edible beans, dry peas, potatoes, and lentils," said Goehring. "As our farmers seek to diversify their production, these grants help provide important information through specialty crop research, education, and trade missions."
Funding has been awarded to several research institutions and agricultural organizations across the state. North Dakota State University (NDSU) received multiple awards for projects addressing sustainable production, disease management, and crop quality.
NDSU will receive $129,267 to develop eco-friendly nematode management methods for field peas, and $109,810 to improve lentil production through optimized management practices in dryland systems. Another $144,571 was allocated to study plant-growth-promoting inoculants for sustainable pulse production, and $140,437 will fund research into potato black dot disease control.
The NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center will receive $111,959.24 to advance integrated management strategies for Aphanomyces and Fusarium root rots in field peas, and $88,702.80 to evaluate fungicide droplet size for improved yields under Ascochyta and powdery mildew pressure. A further $195,021.46 will support research into using Brassica cover crops for biofumigation to control soil-borne diseases in dry beans.
The National Agricultural Genotyping Center was granted $183,308 to assist honey producers by developing a DNA diagnostic panel for identifying local honey sources and verifying imported honey authenticity.
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) will use $199,381.30 to expand specialty crop access and education in schools and communities. The department also received $231,328 to support local partnerships promoting specialty crop sales at trade shows, and $67,107 to aid potato exports to Canada, Mexico, and other countries.
The North Dakota Trade Office was awarded $348,020.25 to explore global trade opportunities for specialty crop producers and processors.
Additional funding includes $91,400 for NDSU to study nutrient-rich fermented beverages made from whole pea flours, $60,417 for research on stone-milled pinto bean flour quality, and $177,030 for examining soil pH and nitrogen interactions in potato scab management.
For 2026, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will accept applications between December 2025 and January 2026. Selected applications will be reviewed and forwarded to the USDA for approval by May 2026.
For more information:
North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Tel: +1 701 328 2191
Email: [email protected]
www.ndda.nd.gov
