Specialty%20Crops
The specialty crop industry annually accounts for more than $53 billion in cash receipts—close to 54% of the total cash receipts for crops—yet specialty crop producers experienced lower than average income in 2003 due to higher energy and labor costs. Specialty crops are defined as all non-program crops. In addition to lower than average income, imports of specialty crops have outstripped the small gain in exports. When comparing U.S. specialty crop import and export values over the period 1997-2002:
- Imports - increased 39% to a total of $14.7 billion in 2002; while,
- Exports - increased 6.5% to a total of $11.7 billion in 2002.
The specialty crop industry is more likely to be impacted by pests, disease, low prices, labor shortages, and lack of funding for research, promotion, and inspection than other commodities. In addition, increased consumption of specialty crops is an important component in the national efforts to reduce obesity, increase the nutritional value of the school lunch program, promote 5-A-Day, and strengthen the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs. NASDA supports funding of a specialty crops block grant program. While we recognize that federal funding is limited, we believe funding for a specialty crops block grant program should not negatively impact current funding for other commodity programs.
Letters and Comments
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Letter Supporting Specialty Crops Block Grant Program in the 2007 Farm Bill September 25, 2007
Thirty-six State Departments of Agriculture sign a letter at the conclusion of 2007 NASDA Annual Meeting Supporting the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program in the 2007 Farm Bill with mandatory funding and grants awarded to State Departments of Agriculture.
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FY 2008 request March 01, 2007
Letter to Senate and House Ag appropriations committee
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Request for Full Funding of Specialty Crops Block Grant Program in FY2007
Letter Requesting Full Funding For A Specialty Crops Block Grant Program in the FY 2007 Agricultural Appropriations Bill
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Support for the Revised Version of the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act October 08, 2004
Letter to US Senate in Support for the Revised Version of the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act on October 8, 2004
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Comments on Proposed Rules regarding Specialty Crop Block Grant Program May 22, 2006
Wrtten comments on proposed rules regarding Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
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Support of Funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program October 18, 2006
Letter in Support of Funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in the final version of the FY 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 2744)
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Funding for Specialty Crop Block Grants May 13, 2005
Letter to the US Senate Urging Funding for Specialty Crop Block Grants sent on May 13, 2005
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Request for clarification on use of the state specialty crop grants October 04, 2001
Letter to the Secretary of Agriculture requesting further guidance and clarification on use of the state specialty crop grants (October 4, 2001)
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Support for Specialty Crops Block Grant Program FY2004 June 26, 2003
Letter in support of Specialty Crops Block Grant Program in the FY 2004 Agricultural June 26, 2003
Appropriations Bill
Testimony
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Statement before the House Committee on Agriculture November 05, 2003
Written Statement of Gene Hugoson, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture on behalf of NASDA before the House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture regarding the Review of Domestic Policies Affecting the Specialty Crop Industry (November 5, 2003)
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Statement of the Honorable Gene Hugoson before US Committee on Appropriations April 01, 2004
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture before The United States Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies April 1, 2004
News
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USDA Advisory Committee Discusses Food Safety, Specialty Crops, and Nutrition Programs
Published: January 30, 2007
USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee met in Washington, D.C., last week.
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Kawamura Named to Fruit And Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
Published: November 01, 2007
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NASDA Board Approves Establishment Of Specialty Crop Task Force
Published: January 03, 2007
A NASDA Specialty Crop Task Force has been created to develop an effort to secure continued funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant program and to work more closely with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and the office of the U.S. Trade Representative on issues affecting specialty crops.
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Kawamura Appointed to USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
Published: January 20, 2006
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Specialty Crops Legislation Introduced
Published: October 10, 2003
U.S. Representative Doug Ose (R-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Cal Dooley (D-Calif.) introduced legislation last week that will significantly enhance the specialty crops industry across the nation.
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NASDA Requests Funding For Specialty Crops Block Grant Program
Published: July 11, 2003
NASDA President and Idaho Secretary of Agriculture Patrick A. Takasugi and NASDA Specialty Crops Task Force Chair and California Agriculture Secretary Bill Lyons signed letters sent to members of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Services of the Senate Appropriations Committee last week.
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Ag Subcommittee Holds Hearing On Specialty Crop Industry
Published: November 07, 2003
Congressman Robin Hayes (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Livestock and Horticulture Agriculture Subcommittee, held a hearing this week to review domestic policies affecting the specialty crop industry.
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NASDA Urges Congress To Support Disaster Assistance Aid And Specielty Crop Block Grant Funding
Published: February 07, 2003
On February 3, NASDA sent a letter to congressional appropriators reiterating its support for disaster assistance to all producers who suffered losses due to natural disasters in 2001 and 2002.
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NASDA Issues Specialty Crop Report
Published: April 19, 2002
This week, NASDA released a preliminary report on the state specialty crop block grant program describing state activities and programs to provide assistance to producers. The report, which is being sent to all members of Congress and USDA officials, is also available on NASDA's website under the "State Specialty Crop Block Grant Information" section.
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NASDA Seeks Guidance on Specialty Crop Grants
Published: October 05, 2001
Billy Ray Smith, NASDA president and commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, sent a letter to USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman this week requesting further guidance on the state block grants for specialty crops.
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