Funding-USDA Specialty Crop Block grants; deadline March 5, 2009

The next available Specialty Crop Block Grant funds, approximately

$8,440,500 (less USDA administrative costs), are available via

applications submitted by March 5, 2009, or sooner.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program was originally authorized by the

Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 and authorized the USDA to

provide state assistance to enhance the competitiveness of specialty

crops. The Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill)

authorized the continuation of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

with some slight modifications. The program is administered by the USDA

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and applications can be submitted

by a agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture

within a state (for more details on the program go to the USDA-AMS

website links below). The state entities authorized to apply for these

grants are encouraged to seek stakeholder input for this grant program

(see State Contacts link below). Individuals, state commodity

organizations, academia, and others in the U.S. specialty crops industry

are encouraged to get involved in the development of applications and

the administration of projects.

Examples of potential projects that enhance competitiveness of specialty

crops include, but are not limited to: research, promotion, marketing,

nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health

programs, education, “buy-local” programs, increased consumption,

increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of

distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product

development, and developing cooperatives.

For more information go to:

State Contacts -

Contact: Trista Etzig, 202-690-4942, trista.etzig@usda.gov

Thanks Eric

Eric Young, Executive Director

Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

North Carolina State University

Box 7561

Raleigh, NC 27695

Phone 919-513-1746

Fax: 919-513-1114