USDA Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Hopefully 80% of the funding provided to the States get to the local level.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

At a food security panel discussion recently I attended it was noted that 2% of the U.S. population are farmers.  That number needs to increase as with the number of local farmers supported by the community with more farmers markets, organically grown vegetables, poultry, beef, and other items.  If speculative purchasing by a community is needed to support local farmers, than out of the box thinking is needed to support them.

 

“How is your spring, summer garden coming along after the winter?”

 

CDS

 

Black Emergency Managers Association  

1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.

Washington, D.C.  20020

Office:   202-618-9097 

bEMA 

 

Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.   Tom Peters

…….The search is on.

 

From: USDA Office of Communications [mailto:usda@public.govdelivery.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2014 1:02 PM
To: BEMA@BlackEmergManagersAssociation.org
Subject: USDA Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Historic Farm Bill Support Available through State Departments of Agriculture

 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. You are subscribed to USDA Office of Communications.   Release No. 0064.14 Contact: Office of Communications (202)720-4623   USDA Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Historic Farm Bill Support Available through State Departments of Agriculture   WASHINGTON, April 17, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of approximately $66 million in Specialty Crop Block Grants to state departments of agriculture for projects that help support specialty crop growers, including locally grown fruits and vegetables, through research, programs to increase demand, and more. The historic support provided by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill), will strengthen rural American communities by supporting local and regional markets and improving access to fresh, healthy, and nutritious high quality products for millions of Americans. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is designed to enhance the markets for specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. "Specialty crop block grants help sustain the livelihoods of American farmers while strengthening the rural economy" said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "These grants contribute to food safety improvements, increased access to healthy food, and new research to help growers increase profitability and sustainability." As directed by the Farm Bill, the block grants are now allocated to U.S. States and territories based on a formula that takes into consideration both specialty crop acreage and production value. Nearly all states are seeing an increase in funds. AMS encourages applicants to develop projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, sustain the livelihood of American farmers, and strengthen rural economies by: Increasing nutritional knowledge and specialty crop consumption among children and adults, Improving efficiency within the distribution system, Promoting the development of good agricultural, handling and manufacturing practices while encouraging audit cost-sharing for small farmers, packers, and processors, Supporting research through standard and green initiatives, Enhancing food safety, Developing new/improved seed varieties and specialty crops, Controlling pests and diseases, Creating organic and sustainable production practices, Establishing local and regional fresh food systems, Expanding access to specialty crops in underserved communities, Developing school and community gardens and farm-to-school programs, Enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crop farmers, including Native American and disadvantaged farmers. Interested applicants should apply directly to their state department of agriculture. Several states have already published their requests for proposals, and the list of FY 2014 State Requests for Proposals is available on the AMS website. For more information visit the AMS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program webpage or contact Trista Etzig via phone at (202) 690-4942 or by e-mail: trista.etzig@ams.usda.gov. State Department of Agriculture Available Grant Allocation FFY14 Alabama $ 483,202.15 Alaska $ 231,963.39 American Samoa $ 262,706.87 Arizona $ 1,100,428.11 Arkansas $ 350,294.21 California $ 19,761,117.56 Colorado $ 835,856.92 Connecticut $ 395,398.17 Delaware $ 336,755.94 District of Columbia $ 221,328.44 Florida $ 4,552,723.92 Georgia $ 1,393,718.92 Guam $ 223,434.76 Hawaii $ 469,614.89 Idaho $ 1,914,955.87 Illinois $ 654,970.71 Indiana $ 453,297.54 Iowa $ 307,610.17 Kansas $ 313,801.56 Kentucky $ 302,121.14 Louisiana $ 436,132.19 Maine $ 600,343.41 Maryland $ 502,785.48 Massachusetts $ 456,716.84 Michigan $ 1,981,817.31 Minnesota $ 1,389,725.01 Mississippi $ 479,540.04 Missouri $ 457,798.79 Montana $ 986,229.53 Nebraska $ 597,375.99 Nevada $ 300,952.49 New Hampshire $ 272,784.44 New Jersey $ 809,716.73 New Mexico $ 548,734.17 New York $ 1,410,387.64 North Carolina $ 1,169,378.27 North Dakota $ 3,135,521.17 Northern Mariana Islands $ 223,187.88 Ohio $ 653,493.18 Oklahoma $ 691,614.00 Oregon $ 1,949,764.89 Pennsylvania $ 1,039,933.92 Puerto Rico $ 522,655.00 Rhode Island $ 255,543.19 South Carolina $ 599,654.00 South Dakota $ 309,899.19 Tennessee $ 517,242.01 Texas $ 1,905,015.87 U.S. Virgin Islands $ 222,513.02 Utah $ 339,318.30 Vermont $ 278,282.61 Virginia $ 564,828.97 Washington $ 4,259,686.23 West Virginia $ 269,871.84 Wisconsin $ 1,403,956.26 Wyoming $ 290,559.83   # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). #  Contact Us   STAY CONNECTED:   SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences  |  Delete profile  |  Help This email was sent to BEMA@BlackEmergManagersAssociation.org using GovDelivery, on behalf of: USDA Office of Communications · 1400 Independence Ave SW · Washington DC 20250 If you have questions about USDA activities, please visit our Ask the Expert page. This feature is designed to assist you in obtaining the information you are seeking. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).