USDA AWARDS $49 MILLION SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANTS, FY10 NOFA EXPECTED SOON
News Date November 03, 2009
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan recently announced the award of 55 grants totaling approximately $49 million for 745 projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands developed program plans to carry out the projects.
The USDA-selected projects included ones that increased the public’s nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems. Other projects include those that assist in the development of “Good Agricultural, Good Handling and Good Manufacturing” practices, including cost share arrangements for funding audits of small farmer, packer and processor systems; invest in specialty crop research; enhance food safety; develop new and improved specialty crop varieties; eradicate pest and plant health issues; and foster organic and sustainable production practices.
States are awaiting the announcement of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the FY2010 Specialty Crops Block Grant – Farm Bill Program, which is expected to be this month. In the past two years, the NOFA has been delayed well into the Fiscal Year, which limits the time states have to raise awareness of the program and help prospective participants with the process. NASDA supports a timely NOFA.
More information, including a summary of the FY2009 grants, can be found at www.ams.usda.gov. (Contact: Amy Mann)