Specialty crop block grants to meet deadline
Specialty crop block grants to meet deadline
WASHINGTON -- News that $10 million in specialty crop block grants are in jeopardy caused produce industry trade associations to sound the alarm.
But in a July 1 meeting, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture pledged to dole out the $10 million in specialty crop block grants before the Sept. 30 deadline. According to Jimmie Turner, USDA_spokesperson, "The funds are available for obligation only through the end of fiscal year 2008. The passing of the farm bill so late into the fiscal year has created challenges for the department. However, USDA is doing everything it can to ensure that the $10 million is distributed in fiscal year 2008."
"It was a welcome message from USDA," said Tom O'Brien, a Washington, DC, consultant for the Produce Marketing Association. "The message is they're on track to get the money out this year," said Mr. O'Brien, who met with USDA officials as part of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance.
There were rumors that the USDA could not meet the Sept. 30 deadline for distributing the block grants, which are used by state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. States that qualify for the block grants can use $100,000 or more for a range of initiatives, such as research, nutrition, education, trade promotion or buy local programs. States can request funding for universities to conduct research on growing a specialty crop in a particular area or help businesses expand farmer markets.
Mr. O'Brien said that the law bars the USDA from rolling over the $10 million to the next fiscal year if it is not spent. Also, money left on the table for this year could jeopardize future attempts to pump money into the critical block grant program, he said.
But in a July 1 meeting, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture pledged to dole out the $10 million in specialty crop block grants before the Sept. 30 deadline. According to Jimmie Turner, USDA_spokesperson, "The funds are available for obligation only through the end of fiscal year 2008. The passing of the farm bill so late into the fiscal year has created challenges for the department. However, USDA is doing everything it can to ensure that the $10 million is distributed in fiscal year 2008."
"It was a welcome message from USDA," said Tom O'Brien, a Washington, DC, consultant for the Produce Marketing Association. "The message is they're on track to get the money out this year," said Mr. O'Brien, who met with USDA officials as part of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance.
There were rumors that the USDA could not meet the Sept. 30 deadline for distributing the block grants, which are used by state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. States that qualify for the block grants can use $100,000 or more for a range of initiatives, such as research, nutrition, education, trade promotion or buy local programs. States can request funding for universities to conduct research on growing a specialty crop in a particular area or help businesses expand farmer markets.
Mr. O'Brien said that the law bars the USDA from rolling over the $10 million to the next fiscal year if it is not spent. Also, money left on the table for this year could jeopardize future attempts to pump money into the critical block grant program, he said.
