Massachusetts has awarded six federally funded specialty crop grants totaling about $403,500, including two at UMass Amherst.
The Oct. 8 announcement lists $82,714 for Momentum Ag in Florence to run a two-year cover crop learning group with support for five farms. Mass Farmers Markets in Westborough will receive $73,028 for local produce marketing.
UMass Amherst will receive $79,684 for greenhouse tomato research involving beneficial insects and pollinators. Its Cranberry Station will receive $73,355.48 to study pesticide drift from drone applications.
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension will receive $51,363.50 for work on native Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens plants. The Massachusetts Flower Growers Association will receive $43,375 for grower education and cut-your-own flower marketing.
The Department of Agricultural Resources administers the Specialty Crop Block Grant program with federal money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service.