Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG)

Enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops through state departments of agriculture

Program Basics
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB) provides block grants to state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Federal funds totaling $49 million in fiscal year 2009 have been provided for this program and $55 million each in fiscal years 2010 through 2012 is expected.

SCBGP-FB funds can be requested for a wide range of projects that enhance the competiveness of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruit, horticulture, nursery crops, and floriculture including, but not limited to: increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; participation of industry representatives at meetings of international standard setting bodies in which the US government participates; improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing "Good Agricultural Practices", "Good Handling Practices", "Good Manufacturing Practices", and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers and processors; investing in specialty crop research, including organic research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes; enhancing food safety; developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; pest and disease control; and sustainability. All state departments of agriculture in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply. States are especially encouraged to develop projects involving partnerships with producer groups, academia, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, or other states to address practical problems faced by the specialty crop industry.

Project Examples

• California Department of Food and Agriculture: Partner with the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance to develop, implement and promote a California Sustainable Winegrowing Certification Program as an incentive to speed winegrowers' adoption of sustainable practices that demonstrate environmental stewardship and social responsibility while enhancing the competitiveness of the State's wine grapes and wine.
• Delaware Department of Agriculture: Partner with Delaware State University Smyrna Outreach and Research Center to provide Delaware organic vegetable growers assistance with all natural pest control and management.
• Wyoming Department of Agriculture: Partner with the Wyoming Business Council to develop a Wyoming Organic Trade Association to assist in education and promotion of specialty crops through creating an inventory and database of organic producers.
• Michigan Department of Agriculture: Partner with Michigan State University to encourage the development of a scientifically-based policy using sensors to determine soil conditions so that excessive water is not applied. Conduct a testing protocol based on previous research on strategies to optimize spray irrigation by monitoring soil assimilation capacity.

Application and Financial Information.

A list of contacts in each State department of agriculture, the amounts of federal funds provided to each state, and project awards can be viewed on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.

For each fiscal year, each State that submits an application that is reviewed and approved by SCBGP-FB is to receive at least an amount that is equal to the higher of $100,000, or 1/3 of 1 percent of the total amount of funding made available for that fiscal year to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. In addition, each State will receive an amount that represents the proportion of the value of specialty crop production in the state in relation to the national value of specialty crop production using the latest available complete specialty crop production data set in all states whose applications are accepted.

Each fiscal year, the SCBGP-FB will publish a Federal Register notice announcing the program and soliciting grant applications. The notice will include the amount of grant funds available to each state and the application period.

Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Only state departments of agriculture are eligible to apply for direct funding. However, others, including, but not limited to: producer groups, academia, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, or other states are encouraged to work with their state departments of agriculture to develop SCBGP-FB proposals.

Capital expenditures for the acquisition cost of capital assets (equipment, buildings, land), or expenditures to make improvements to capital assets that materially increase their value or useful life are not allowable.

Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.

Website
www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp

Contact
Organizations interested in developing a proposal should contact their state department of agriculture for additional information and guidance.

Trista Etzig, SCBGP-FB Project Manager
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Room 2077-S
Washington, DC 20250
Phone: (202) 690-4942
Fax: (202) 720-0016
E-mail: trista.etzig@usda.gov

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