USDA grants include nursery programs

USDA awarded more than $1.3 million in 26 matching grants to 21 states supporting agricultural market research and demonstration projects, including nursery and landscape projects.

The grants are provided by the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, the University of Florida, the University of Florida-Leon County Extension Office, the University of Georgia and Auburn University received $14,995. The money will be used to help Deep South wildflower growers develop a market for native ecotype seeds. Sales would be to state departments of transportation for planting along public roads and highways.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscaping Association received $61,600 to develop a nursery marketing strategy to address shifts in demand due to changing consumer preferences, and environmental regulations regarding water use and invasive plants.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association received $61,400 to determine key factors that influence current and anticipated consumer purchases of nursery products and landscape services. The program was designed to help the state’s nursery sector update its marketing strategies and better plan future product and service offerings.

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For more: Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program, (202) 720-2704; www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm.