Gov. Terry McAuliffe announces nearly $600,000 in USDA Specialty Crop Grants available

Gov. Terry McAuliffe this week announced that the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is accepting applications for usda Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant funding.

Agricultural associations, industry groups, community-based organizations and producer groups that seek to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops in Virginia are eligible to submit proposals for grants up to $50,000 per project. VDACS anticipates administering nearly $600,000 in funds for the development of specialty crop projects. The deadline for returning applications is March 21, 2014.

Speaking about the grants, Governor McAuliffe said, “Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry, and I am committed to keeping it at the forefront of my administration’s job creation and economic development efforts.  Utilization of these grants likely will yield positive long-term economic benefits for our diversified agricultural interests and strengthen the industry as a whole.  I encourage producer groups to take advantage of this opportunity to apply for funding for projects that enhance the competitiveness of Virginia’s many specialty crops.”

Specialty crops are categorized as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops, including floriculture, that are not typically covered by traditional crop insurance. Specialty crops do not include standard commodities such as corn, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, cotton, or tobacco. Processed foods are eligible as long as they enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crop competitive grant proposals must be specific and explain how an association, industry group or organization will use the funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Some examples include research, promotion. and marketing plans, as well as food safety projects.

In awarding the usda Specialty Crop Block Grant funds, VDACS will give priority to projects with the sole purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops as they pertain to the following issues:

• ·         increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops;
• ·         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 and Good Manufacturing Practices;
• ·         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;
• ·         developing organic and sustainable production practices; and
• ·         increasing the competitiveness of specialty crop farmers.

Guidelines, instructions, and the application for the usda Specialty Crop Competitive Grants are available online at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/marketing/scrop.shtml (click on Application Form to apply), via e-mail to Melissa Ball at [email protected].gov, or at VDACS, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA  23219.

Agriculture and forestry are Virginia’s largest industries, with a combined economic impact of approximately $70 billion annually: more than $52 billion from agriculture and over $17 billion from forestry.  The industries also provide more than 400,000 jobs in the Commonwealth according to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.