ND deadline extended for specialty crop grant apps

North Dakota deadline for applications for specialty crop grants extended 3 weeks

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has extended the application deadline for grants to help promote specialty crops.

The deadline had been this coming Friday but Goehring has moved it to May 24. He says North Dakota and Minnesota have cooperated on a number of projects in the past, and the new deadline is closer to Minnesota's closing date.

The federal Agricultural Marketing Service is expected to give North Dakota about $480,000 for the grants, which can be used for such purposes as developing new seed varieties, controlling pests and diseases and developing regional food systems. Grants are capped at $100,000.

Specialty crops in North Dakota include dry beans, dry peas, lentils, potatoes, confection sunflowers, grapes, honey and vegetables.