May 13, 2005
via fax
Honorable Robert Bennett
Chair, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) requests your support to fund a Specialty Crops Block Grant Program in the FY 2006 Agricultural Appropriations Bill. The block grant program was authorized for $44.5 million in P.L. 108-465 and will be disbursed based upon each state’s value of specialty crop production. Block grant funds must be used to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops (defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery cops). The law authorizes that each state would receive a base grant of $100,000.
NASDA was very pleased that 17 Senators sent you a letter supporting appropriations for certain programs authorized by the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act (P.L. 108-465), including $44.5 million for the block grant program.
The first Specialty Crops Block Grant Program was part of the emergency farm assistance package approved by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in August 2001. The program provided approximately $159 million for specialty crop production assistance and funds were distributed through state grants. Each state received a base grant of $500,000, with Puerto Rico receiving $1 million, to “support activities that promote agriculture” and the remaining funds were allocated to states based on the ratio of the value of vegetable, fruit and nut production in each state to the national total.
States, working in cooperation with their agricultural community, were able to direct funding to areas that would provide the greatest overall benefits to their state citizens and producers. These areas included programs such as food safety and security, agricultural education, research, pest and disease prevention, marketing and promotion, and enhancement of the health and nutrition of our children and adults. NASDA issued a progress report on those grants and it can be located at http://www.nasda.org/specialtycrop/ .
Specialty crop block grants would continue to bolster the development and enhance the global competitiveness of these crops and to meet the varied needs of specialty crop producers that are not usually served through traditional farm programs. In order to provide further information, a project questionnaire on the specialty crop block grant program is also included with this letter.
NASDA urges you to fund a Specialty Crops Block Grant Program in FY 2006. Your favorable consideration of this request is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Nathan L. Rudgers, NASDA President
Commissioner, New York Department of Agriculture and Markets