Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces More Than $550,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Funding for Virginia

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Funding for Specialty Crop Projects

Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced more than $550,000 in federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding has been awarded to seven agricultural-related projects to help promote and enhance the competitiveness of Virginia’s specialty crops.

“This grant funding supports research and technological advancements that enhance the competitiveness of Virginia’s specialty crops while also helping to create new market opportunities for agricultural producers. I am also pleased that several of these projects will help to further position the Commonwealth as the leader in controlled environment agriculture,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “These grants represent over a half-million-dollar investment in Virginia’s economy, which will boost economic development and create jobs in agriculture, Virginia’s largest private industry.”

Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Among this round of specialty crop grant awards are projects that advance research within controlled environment agriculture, frost damage prevention, Virginia specific disease management, evaluation of in-field water treatments, and potential economic benefits of using drones for pest management.

Said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr, “These grant awards are great news for Virginia producers and further Governor Youngkin’s commitment to using agriculture as a growth engine and source of jobs in rural areas. I congratulate these educational institutions and organizations for their innovative research that will not only help Virginia growers, but also add value and enhance market opportunities across the Commonwealth.”

Recipients and Projects

1. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Dr. Laura Strawn, Blacksburg, Va.

   Validating In-Field Water Treatments to Enhance Produce Safety

   Virginia Tech will validate in-field water treatments to enhance produce safety for specialty crop farms. These findings will directly support Virginia specialty crop producers by generating data on the efficacy of in-field water treatments and how farms can monitor, verify and validate their use as a mitigation strategy to control contamination risks. Results will be communicated to stakeholders through extension activities at grower meetings, fact sheets/presentations, and Virginia-hosted Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings. Water treatment may be required at specific times or used as a mitigation when water is not safe or is not of adequate sanitary quality for intended uses.

2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Dr. Vijay Singh, Painter, Va.

   Use of Drone-Spray for Weed Management in Specialty Crops

   The Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center weed science team will evaluate the potential economic benefits of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)/drones. Virginia Tech’s previous research on soybean and corn showed that these technologies can provide higher efficacy of the herbicides that are applied. UAS-based herbicide applications showed 30% higher efficacy of postemergence herbicides compared to backpack spray applications. This study will provide efficacy and economic data on UAS based spray in two crops: tomatoes and Cole crop (broccoli).

3. River City Flower Exchange Cooperative Inc., Justine McFarland, Richmond, Va.

   Increasing Sustainability and Competitiveness of Virginia’s Floriculture Industry by Improving Efficiency and Reducing Distribution Costs

   The River City Flower Exchange Cooperative (RCFEC) will continue to increase public awareness and enhance the competitiveness of Virginia’s floriculture industry through increased access to sustainably grown flowers by developing an efficient and cost-effective delivery and outpost model. This effort would greatly increase the competitiveness of Virginia’s floriculture industry.

4. Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Dr. B. Sajeewa Amaradasa, Danville, Va.

   Increase Yield in Greenhouse Soilless Strawberry Using Growth Promoting Bacteria

   The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension, industry leaders, and growers, will contribute to increasing greenhouse soilless strawberry yield by utilizing growth promoting bacteria. This research outcome would help growers increase profits in hydroponically grown strawberry by using growth promoting bacteria.

5. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Dr. Douglas S. Higgins, Painter, Va.

   Virginia Specific Disease Management Strategies to Protect Sweet Corn Seedlings

   Seed rot and seedling blight remains a constant threat for Virginia’s sweet corn producers. The objectives of this project are to identify fungicide seed treatments that are most beneficial for Virginia growers and to determine which soilborne pathogen species are most common in the state’s soils. Specific disease management recommendations for protecting sweet corn seedlings in Virginia will be disseminated to growers using written and oral extension outreach methods.

6. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Dr. Kaylee South, Danville, Va.

   Next-Generation Biofungicides for Application in Controlled Environment Agriculture

   Virginia Tech researchers will develop and evaluate the use of biofungicides for the control of common diseases of food crops produced in controlled environment agriculture. Results of this project will be disseminated to stakeholders through publications and presentations.

7. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Dr. Sherif M. Sherif, Winchester, Va.

   Preserving Apples in the Face of Frost: Evaluating the Efficacy of Cryoprotectants

   Virginia Tech will investigate the impact of cryoprotectants on apple trees in the Mid-Atlantic region to advance the development of more practical and cost-effective strategies for reducing the adverse effects of spring frosts on apple production.

Specialty Crop Block Grant program funding is authorized annually by the 2018 Farm Bill. Fiscal year 2023 funding is awarded for a three-year period beginning Sept. 30, 2023. The awards resulted from a competitive grant process established by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) for funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. As grants for the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program were considered, VDACS gave priority to projects that included the following activities:

• Assist farmers transitioning into specialty, high-value agricultural initiatives that address the

  SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 15: Life on Land

  The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these SDGs because they involve promoting and enhancing the competitiveness of Virginia’s specialty crops, supporting agricultural producers, boosting economic development, creating jobs in agriculture, increasing sustainability, improving efficiency, reducing distribution costs, increasing yield, developing biofungicides, and preserving apples in the face of frost.

  2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.
  • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation.
  • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
  • Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains.
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

  The article’s content aligns with these targets as it focuses on increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, promoting technological advancements, enhancing sustainability, reducing distribution costs, and preserving crops from frost damage.

  3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
  • Indicator 8.2.1: Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person.
  • Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added.
  • Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index.
  • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

  The article mentions projects that aim to enhance productivity, increase economic growth, reduce distribution costs, and preserve crops. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by tracking the volume of production per labor unit, the growth rate of real GDP per employed person, CO2 emissions per unit of value added, the food loss index, and the forest area as a proportion of total land area.

  Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  SDGs	Targets	Indicators
  SDG 2: Zero Hunger	Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.	Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
  SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation.	Indicator 8.2.1: Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person.
  SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.	Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added.
  SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains.	Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index.
  SDG 15: Life on Land	Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.	Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

  Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

  Source: governor.virginia.gov

   

  

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