(NPN) -- Nearly three and a half million dollars are available to Dakota farmers for specialty crop grants.

Thursday, the USDA announced $66 million available nationally to the states through block grants. North Dakota will receive a little over $3.1 million dollars, South Dakota a bit less than $310,000.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service, is designed to enhance the markets for specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.

The USDA says most states received more money than last year.

Under the Farm Bill, the block grants are allocated to U.S. states and territories based on a formula that takes into consideration both specialty crop acreage and production value.

Northern Plains states’ grants: $307,610; Minnesota, $1,389,725; Montana, $986,229; Nebraska, $597,376; North Dakota, $3,135,521; South Dakota, $309,899; and Wyoming, $290,560.

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