Specialty Crops Grants Program

Weathers Announces Specialty Crops Grants Program

COLUMBIA, SC, July 15, 2009 - Hugh E. Weathers, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture,
announces a grant program for institutions and groups that support specialty crops. The program is funded by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service as established by the 2008 Farm Bill.

Those interested in participating in the program are encouraged to provide a one page summary that includes a project plan for use of the funds and the estimated cost of implementing the plan. The project must fall within the criteria listed below and must benefit groups of producers and not individuals. Those selected will be asked to provide additional details as part of the overall state plan for use of the specialty
crops grant funds.

Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops (including floriculture). Projects should be developed to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry: 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 U. S. government participates; improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing “Good 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 diseasecontrol; marketing and sustainability.

Submit project proposals to the address listed below by August 15, 2009. Final decisions on acceptance aspart of the overall plan should come in mid October. Projects can be multi-year but should not exceedthree years in duration. Funds cannot be used for capital expenditures such as buildings, equipment, orland. Indirect costs cannot exceed ten percent.

For more information or to submit proposals, contact
Larry J. Boyleston
Specialty Crops Grant Program
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 11280
Columbia, SC 29211
Phone – 803/734-2191
Email – lboylest@scda.sc.gov