NASDA Issues Specialty Crop Report
News Date 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.
Last August, Congress approved an emergency farm assistance package (H.R. 2213, P.L. 107-25) which for the first time provided $159 million in block grants to states for assistance to producers of specialty crops. The funds were distributed to the states last fall and since that time, state departments of agriculture have been working to implement their programs. Many states have not yet completed all of their activities because states have until September 30, 2002, to complete disbursal of the block grant funds. As additional states complete their programs, NASDA will post their information on the NASDA website. NASDA will compile a final report during the fourth quarter of this year.
NASDA has also urged Congress to support a permanent authorization of the specialty crop block grant.