INDUSTRY NEWS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program $170M for Grant Program to Fund Innovative Projects Through USDA's Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative launched in March, the agency last month announced the availability of more than $330 million to help ag producers and organizations in the food supply chain recover from the financial impacts of the pandemic. The funding provides nearly $170 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to fund innovative projects to support the expanding specialty crop food sector and explore new market opportunities for food and ag products. That total amount includes $72.9 million in annual farm bill funding for SCBGP, plus an additional $97 million provided by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 due to COVID-19 impacts to the food system. Numerous vineyard and wine-related projects have benefitted from SCBGP grants. PD/GWSS Board Recommends 2021-22 Funding By Ted Rieger: At its April 19 meeting, the PD/GWSS Board approved more than $2.1 million in new funding for 12 research projects related to PD, grapevine viruses and vectors. The board received 18 research proposals for FY 2021-22 from its annual request for proposal and approved recommendations of the research screening committee. The board forwards its recommendations to CDFA Secretary Karen Ross for final approval. 2021 CAWG FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT SEE YOU AT THE COURSE! Join us on June 10 in Lodi! Four-person scramble Registration * Sponsorships click here for brochure CAWG.ORG 11https://www.ams.usda.gov/press-release/usda-invests-more-330-million-specialty-crops-grants-incentives-purchase-fruits-and https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=244410 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=244410 https://files.constantcontact.com/cd6628ed001/fb1429cc-4ec7-48ac-b5a9-0ebf72615158.pdf https://www.cawg.org/