During a visit to Michigan this week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Trump administration will roll out more than $275 million in new federal funding aimed at strengthening the nation’s specialty crop sector, as policymakers seek to bolster producers facing tight margins and rising costs.
Speaking in Michigan alongside Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI-07), Rollins announced expanded support through three key programs: the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program. The funding increases, enabled by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, more than double annual research funding for specialty crops to $175 million while boosting combined grant funding for state-led initiatives to $100 million beginning in fiscal 2026.
The announcement followed a visit to Michigan State University Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, where Rollins and Barrett met with farmers and agricultural leaders to discuss industry priorities. The expanded funding, administered in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Agricultural Marketing Service, is intended to address persistent challenges in labor, production and market competitiveness across a sector that includes fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops.
For the first time, at least $20 million of the research funding will be dedicated to mechanization and automation projects, reflecting growing concerns about labor shortages and costs. Federal officials said the grants will support research, education and marketing efforts, with funds distributed to states and territories based on production value and acreage, and then awarded to local projects.
Rollins framed the investment as part of a broader push to align agricultural production with increasing consumer demand for healthier foods, while ensuring farmers have the tools to remain competitive. Barrett, a Republican, credited the tax package with delivering what he described as meaningful support for Michigan producers, noting the state’s diverse agricultural output and research capacity.
Industry leaders welcomed the funding but cautioned that broader economic pressures remain. Michigan Farm Bureau President Ben LaCross said farmers continue to grapple with rising input costs and stagnant commodity prices, underscoring the need for expanded export opportunities and stronger domestic markets.
The grants build on a separate $1 billion assistance program for specialty crop growers announced earlier this year, signaling an intensified federal effort to stabilize a sector that plays a critical role in the U.S. food system. Applications for the block grant program are open through June 8, with funding expected to flow to state and local projects later this year.
