The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is accepting grant applications for projects that enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops in foreign and domestic markets. The application deadline for specialty crop block grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is April 27. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture (including honey) and nursery crops (including floriculture). Learn more by visiting agi.alabama.gov/scbgp.

The Conservation Stewardship Program signup deadline is May 29. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging producers and private landowners to submit applications as soon as possible because funding is limited. Learn more at nrcs.usda.gov.

2020 National Wheat Yield Contest enrollment is open through the National Wheat Foundation. The contest is divided into winter wheat and spring wheat, with subcategories including dryland and irrigated. The deadline for winter wheat entries is May 15, while spring wheat entries are due Aug. 1. Learn more at WheatFoundation.org.