MDA Announces 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Awardees
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Friday, October 16, 2026
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The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) and USDA have partnered to announce the recipients of the state’s $2.9 million investment in projects through the Montana Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program. With this grant, the Montana Department of Agriculture has funded projects that will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop products and create new market opportunities for the state’s specialty crop producers. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Montana ranks in the top five in the nation for the production of specialty crops.
“The projects selected this year reflect the forward momentum of Montana’s specialty crop industry,” said MDA Director Jillien Streit. “By supporting research, market development, and value-added opportunities, we’re helping producers strengthen their operations and contribute to the continued growth of Montana agriculture.”
2026 SCBG AWARDS
Through the SCBGP, the Montana Department of Agriculture will fund 13 projects to increase specialty crops in Montana:
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$200,152.47 to Mission West Community Development Partners for “Enhancing Montana Specialty Crop Competitiveness Through Scaled Processing and Distribution for Institutions”. Primary Investigators: Jan Tusick and Blake Lineweaver.
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$306,871 to Montana State University for “Winter Pea Integration for Diversified and Resilient Pulse Production Systems”. Primary Investigator: Dr. Eeusha Nafi.
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$194,004 to Montana State University for “On-Farm and Multi Site Validation of Zinc Management of MT Dry Peas”. Primary Investigator: Dr. Joao Cardoso with the MSU-Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center in Conrad.
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$236,371 to Montana State University for “Creating MT Adapted Determinate Growth Early Maturing Chickpeas”. Primary Investigator: Dr. Michael Giroux.
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$114,024 to Montana State University for “Screening Pea Germplasm for Resistance to Aphanomyces Root Rot”. Primary Investigator: Dr. Carmen Murphy.
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$296,005 to Montana State University for “Mapping Montana’s Indigenous Rhizobia Populations and Identifying Effective Rhizobia for Dry Bean”. Primary Investigator: Dr. Chengci Chen with the MSU-Eastern Agricultural Research Center in Sidney.
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$333,901 to ... (the rest of the awardees are not fully quoted, but you can format them in the same way as above)