Michigan State University researchers will receive nearly $10 million in funding from USDA to bolster specialty crop production.

The funding was announced as part of a $70.2 million investment in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), which is going to support 21 research and extension projects.

MSU will receive $6,033,062 to research ways to enhance integrated insect pest management strategies for U.S. potato production systems. Goals of the project include finding immediate solutions for managing potato insect pests without using neonicotinoids, creating a healthy seed supply for U. S. seed markets, and increasing reliance on decision support tools to reduce production costs, among others.

Researchers at MSU will also receive $3,952,330 for a project aimed at increasing competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. blueberry industry by developing methods to improve fruit quality and reduce crop loss. The grant proposal notes that the funding will help continue ongoing research efforts with objectives such as measuring pathogen diversity, collecting crop production data to correlate with fruit rot, and studying regional production effects on microbial communities.

The SCRI, administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, prioritizes projects that improve crop characteristics; manages threats from pests and diseases; improves production efficiency, profitability and technological innovation; and mitigates food safety hazards.

Other specialty crop announcements

As part of a larger effort to support the U.S. specialty crops sector and increase the competitiveness of its products, USDA said it conducted a department-wide review of its current services and programs that support the specialty crops industry and compiled the information into a Specialty Crops Resource Directory.

“The directory, being launched today, is a one-stop shop for the sector and contains a comprehensive snapshot of USDA’s resources and services for specialty crops producers and businesses in one convenient location,” USDA wrote.

Additionally, over the next several months, USDA leadership said it will engage directly with the specialty crop industry and producers to gain feedback on how the department can better address gaps in services and better meet the industry’s needs. Dates and locations of roundtables and other live opportunities for stakeholder feedback are to be announced.

USDA also encourages U.S. specialty crops stakeholders to submit comments on how USDA can better support and meet the needs of the industry.

Source - https://www.michiganfarmnews.com