On December 21, 2004, the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) authorized the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants to State departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) amended the Specialty Crops Competiveness Act of 2004 and authorized the USDA to provide grants to States for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
All Minnesota specialty crop industry applications will be received and reviewed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Selected applications will be included into one Minnesota state plan and submitted to the USDA for final approval.
Funding Source and Available Funds
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is charged with distributing block grant funds to state departments of agriculture, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in fiscal year 2012. AMS is in the process of announcing its notice on 2011 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill (SCBGPFB) funding. The FY 2012 funding cycle allocation for Minnesota is $703,000.
Minnesota SCBGP; FB program funds will be distributed to the specialty crop industry through a competitive review process. Competitive grant awards are capped at $100,000 for a specific project. SCBGP-FB grant funds will be awarded for projects up to three years in duration. Applications that build on a previously funded SCBGP project may be submitted. In such cases, the application should clearly indicate how the project complements previous work.
More than one project application per applicant may be submitted. Projects may be submitted by a single organization or for combined specialty crop efforts. Multi-state projects are also eligible to provide a growing need for solutions to problems that cross state boundaries. Project topics may include, but are not limited to: addressing good agricultural practices, research on crop productivity or quality, enhancing access to federal nutrition programs, pest and disease management, or commodity-specific projects addressing common issues.
Application & Funding Timing
MDA is requesting proposals for fiscal year 2012-FB grant cycles. Funds will be disbursed when program applications have been submitted and approved by both MDA and the USDA.
Selected grant projects will not be able to begin project activity and incur eligible project expenses until this approval has been received. It is anticipated this will be late fall or early winter 2012.
Timeline
- Applications Due to MDA April 20, 2012
- Applications Reviewed by MDA May 29, 2012
- Selected Applications Notified by MDA May 30, 2012
- State Application Submitted to USDA July 15, 2012
- Anticipated USDA Approval October/November 2012
MDA Contact
David Weinand
Marketing Specialist
david.weinand@state.mn.us
Ag Marketing & Development Division
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