To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to establish a waiver from the matching requirement for certain grants under the specialty crop research initiative.

This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive the matching requirement for certain grants under the specialty crop research initiative.

Specifically, USDA may waive the requirement if (1) the research conducted using grant funds will benefit a specific specialty crop and is likely to be applicable to agricultural commodities generally, or the grant involves scientifically important research; and (2) the recipient of the grant is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.