EBB Farms wins USDA grant for Kentucky chestnut pest guidance

EBB Farms in Grayson County, Kentucky, has received a $20,000 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant to develop free, Kentucky-specific guidance for chestnut growers. The three-year project with University of Kentucky extension aims to address chestnut weevil, blight and root rot with field-based research and public resources.

Why it matters: - Kentucky chestnut growers lack local recommendations for major pests and diseases, forcing many to rely on guidance from other states. - The project will produce free, practical tools for growers working in Kentucky's heavy clay soils and humid summers. - The grant supports research that could improve tree health, nut quality and early orchard survival across the state.

What happened: - EBB Farms received a $20,000 grant through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. - The award funds a three-year project led by EBB Farms Lone Hill, LLC with partner United Chestnuts (DTM Collective LLC) and the University of Kentucky Fruit and Nut Extension team. - The project starts in 2027 and will study chestnut weevil, blight, and Phytophthora root rot and ink disease in EBB Farms' orchards.

The details: - The USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and supports projects that strengthen specialty crops in the states. - The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is funding eight projects in 2026, including this one. - EBB Farms currently uses a hot water treatment to kill chestnut weevils in harvested nuts. - The farm plans to explore spraying in the coming season and document the results. - The project will turn field findings into free guidance on timing, technique, and what to look for. - Three protocols will cover chestnut weevil, blight, and Phytophthora and ink disease. - The project will include a photo reference with more than 30 labeled images, a pest and disease guide, and a research summary. - Monitoring will cover at least five acres at EBB Farms and will be reviewed with University of Kentucky extension specialists. - A free public farm tour will share results with at least 30 Kentucky farmers and landowners. - The project builds on the UC Academy guide, "Protecting Young Chestnut Trees from Ambrosia Beetle Attack," published in March 2026. - EBB Farms is in Falls of Rough, Grayson County, Kentucky, and was founded in 2017 by Brad and Melanie Jones. - The farm grows more than 2,500 chestnut trees on nearly 200 acres and sells chestnut seedlings and fresh chestnuts. - More information is available at the company website.

Between the lines: - The grant turns EBB Farms into a test site for practical chestnut research, not just a producer of nuts and seedlings. - By pairing extension specialists with on-farm trials, the project could create guidance growers are more likely to use because it reflects Kentucky conditions. - The emphasis on free materials suggests the effort is designed to scale beyond one farm and help new orchards get established faster.

What's next: - EBB Farms and its partners will begin orchard monitoring in 2027. - The team will document results from pest control trials and field observations. - Kentucky growers should eventually get the new guidance, image set, and research summary at no cost. - The farm tour will provide a public update to local farmers and landowners once results are ready.

The bottom line: - EBB Farms is using a USDA grant to build Kentucky-specific chestnut growing guidance that could fill a major local information gap for growers.