Preliminary Report to Congress on State Grants for Specialty Crops


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In August, 2001, Congress approved a farm assistance package (H.R. 2213, P.L. 107-25) which included a block grant to states for assistance to specialty crop producers. Congress aimed these resources directly to the states to provide much needed resources to farmers and ranchers who are continuing to experience commodity prices which are, in many cases, below their cost of production. The block grant was given to provide states with critical support and funds to supplement ongoing activities at the state and local level. It gives the states the opportunity they have been calling for to set their own priorities and to find creative and innovative ways to address the diverse economic challenges faced by growers of specialty crops throughout the country.

In a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest, then-NASDA President, Leon Graves, committed to provide a report to Congress on the activities of the states to implement the block gran


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National Association of State Departments of Agric. 2007. State Grants for Specialty Crops. Washington, DC : National Association of State Department of Agricu.