Please forward widely,
Great grant for farmers to network with one another, spread valuable
knowledge related to
specialty crops (basically any crop other than a commodity crop)
Points awarded for grants that assist beginning farmers! (Any farmer
with less than 10
yrs operating experience, according to USDA)
Ben
Ben Waterman
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Beginning Farmer and Land Access Program
(802) 656-9142
(802) 644-8052
----- Forwarded message from [log in to unmask] -----
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:07:24 -0500
From: "Jordan, Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: "Jordan, Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Specialty Crop Block Grants 2010 - Letters of Interest
To: "Jordan, Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has started collecting letters of
interest from groups and individuals planning to apply for 2010
Specialty Crop Block Grants. These grants are administered by USDA
through state departments of agriculture. Below please find the
information about how to apply - details on the federal program are
available online at:
www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp<http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp>
Helen Labun Jordan
Food Policy Administrator
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
116 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620
(802) 828-3828
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 2010 - 2011
Contact: Helen Labun Jordan
(802) 828-3828
[log in to unmask]
Letters of Interest are now being solicited for the Specialty Crop
Block Grant Program (SCBGP).
This program is administered by the US Department of Agriculture
through state departments of agriculture. Each state collects
proposals through a competitive grant process and then submits a final
proposal to the USDA in a State Plan. The USDA then works with state
departments of agriculture to ensure that the State Plans match the
federal guidelines.
A full overview of the program is available online at:
www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp<http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp> under Grants
Rules & Procedures (2010 Guidance Document).
We strongly encourage reading the USDA documents first before
preparing a project proposal.
Timeline for Proposals & Funding:
* March 1st: Letters of interest due to the VT Agency of
Agriculture (see following sections for letter of interest requirements)
o These letters of interest will allow VAAFM to screen those that
are not eligible for the SCBGP, are a better fit for other funds, or
might be combined through a collaborative effort before final
proposals are developed.
* April 1st: VAAFM returns comments on original concepts
* May 1st: Final applications are due (see following sections
for application requirements)
* July 15th: Final decisions announced for the State Plan
* August 1st: State Plans submitted to USDA - some
modifications might be required based on USDA feedback.
* October 1st: Federal funds become available.
What Projects Are Eligible?
The following guidelines are taken from the USDA guidance document
Projects must:
Solely Enhance the Competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. Territory Grown
Specialty Crops
The USDA describes "Specialty Crops" as "fruits and vegetables, tree
nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including
floriculture." Specialty crops are plants that are intensively
cultivated. There are many plants that are specialty crops when
cultivated, but are also collected from wild populations. Wild plants
are not considered specialty crops even though they may be used for
the same purpose as cultivated plants.
Crops that are not considered specialty crops include:
Alfalfa
Peanuts
Barley
Primrose
Borage
Quinoa
Buckwheat
Rapeseed oil
Canola
Range grasses
Canola Oil
Rice
Clover
Rye
Cotton
Safflower meal
Cottonseed oil
Safflower oil
Dairy products
Shellfish (marine or freshwater)
Eggs
Sorghum
Field corn
Soybean oil
Fish (marine or freshwater)
Soybeans
Flax
Sugar beets
Flaxseed
Sugarcane
Hay
Sunflower oil
Livestock products
Tobacco
Millet
Tofu
Mustard seed oil
Wheat
Oats
Wild Rice
Peanut oil
USDA encourages states to develop projects solely to 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; 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 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 development of organic and sustainable
production practices.
States may wish to consider submitting grants that increase the
competitiveness of specialty crop farmers, including Native American
and disadvantaged farmers. Increasing competiveness may include
developing local and rural agricultural economies, and improving food
access in underserved communities.
Be Completed Within Three Calendar Years
Projects must be completed within three calendar years after the grant
agreement is signed.
Benefit More Than One Product or Organization
Applications for grant funds should describe how the project
potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty
crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization,
institution, or individual.
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.
The following are some examples of acceptable and unacceptable projects:
Examples of Unacceptable Projects
A company requests grant funds to purchase starter plants or equipment
used to plant, cultivate, and grow a specialty crop for the purpose of
making a profit, or to expand production of a single business.
A State requests grant funds to make grants to individual specialty
crop businesses or roadside stands to promote their individual business.
Examples of Acceptable Projects
A State requests funding to contract with a university to conduct
research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating, and growing a
specialty crop in a particular area, the results of which can be
shared with many growers throughout the State.
A single grower requests funds to demonstrate the viability of organic
small fruit production and partners with Cooperative Extension to
publicize the working model of diversification to other regional
growers.
A single specialty crop organization requests funds to conduct an
advertising campaign that will benefit their specialty crop members.
A single farmer erects high tunnels on their property to extend the
growing season of tomatoes and lettuce and conducts a field day and
farm tour to encourage other small family farmers to adopt the
production methods.
Match Funds Available:
Although there is no specific cap on grant amounts, previous
successful proposals have been generally between $5,000 and $20,000.
In addition, grants must follow USDA guidelines for eligible spending.
Guidelines are available at:
www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp<http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp> in Appendix B of
the 2010 Guidance Document. The total amount available for grants
shifts from year to year, but will be approximately $205,000.
What Criteria Will Be Used in Selection?
The selection committee will be composed of five members, at least
three of whom are farmers, who will score each application based on
the criteria below. The selection committee will change each year, and
members will not vote on projects affecting their crops or
organizations that they belong to as either members or board members.
Proposals selection will be based on averaged scores, with committee
discussion in the case of multiple proposals receiving the same score.
Points:
* Proposal includes assistance for beginning and/or disadvantaged
farmers (15 points)
* Proposal develops new knowledge that can strengthen the
operations of specialty crop producers (15 points)
* Proposal responds to an urgent need (15 points)
* Proposal includes a strong outreach / information dissemination
component (15 points)
* Proposal's budget demonstrates an efficient use of resources -
for example, leverages matching funds (15 points)
* Proposal builds from previous work (5 points)
* Proposal benefits an underrepresented region (Bennington County,
Essex County, Franklin County) - if statewide then applicant
demonstrates an impact on these counties, for example through
partnerships, targeted outreach, etc. (5 points)
* General quality of proposal narrative (5 points)
How Do I Apply?
The first stage, letters of interest, should be a brief outline of
your plans that includes:
* Contact information
* Lead organization and partners
* Description of proposed project (including how it helps
specialty crop producers)
* Size of request.
Letters of Interest are due to Helen Labun Jordan by 5:00 pm on March 1st.
Electronic copies in Microsoft Word are strongly preferred and can be
sent to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
Hard copies can be mailed to VT Agency of Agriculture; Attn: Helen
Labun Jordan; 116 State Street; Montpelier, VT 05602
**If you do not hear back a confirmation that your letter of interest
was received within a week of submitting it, please check to ensure
that it has been received.**
The final proposals will follow the USDA guidelines provided at
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/scbgp under "Grant Rules & Procedures"
- select 2010 SCBGP Guidance Document.
----- End forwarded message -----
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has started collecting letters of interest from groups and individuals planning to apply for 2010 Specialty Crop Block Grants. These grants are administered by USDA through state departments of agriculture. Below please find the information about how to apply - details on the federal program are available online at: www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp<http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp>
Helen Labun Jordan
Food Policy Administrator
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
116 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620
(802) 828-3828
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 2010 - 2011
Contact: Helen Labun Jordan
(802) 828-3828
[log in to unmask]
Letters of Interest are now being solicited for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).
This program is administered by the US Department of Agriculture through state departments of agriculture. Each state collects proposals through a competitive grant process and then submits a final proposal to the USDA in a State Plan. The USDA then works with state departments of agriculture to ensure that the State Plans match the federal guidelines.
A full overview of the program is available online at: www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp<http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp> under Grants Rules & Procedures (2010 Guidance Document).
We strongly encourage reading the USDA documents first before preparing a project proposal.
Timeline for Proposals & Funding:
* March 1st: Letters of interest due to the VT Agency of Agriculture (see following sections for letter of interest requirements)
o These letters of interest will allow VAAFM to screen those that are not eligible for the SCBGP, are a better fit for other funds, or might be combined through a collaborative effort before final proposals are developed.
* April 1st: VAAFM returns comments on original concepts
* May 1st: Final applications are due (see following sections for application requirements)
* July 15th: Final decisions announced for the State Plan
* August 1st: State Plans submitted to USDA - some modifications might be required based on USDA feedback.
* October 1st: Federal funds become available.
What Projects Are Eligible?
The following guidelines are taken from the USDA guidance document
Projects must:
Solely Enhance the Competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. Territory Grown Specialty Crops
The USDA describes "Specialty Crops" as "fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture." Specialty crops are plants that are intensively cultivated. There are many plants that are specialty crops when cultivated, but are also collected from wild populations. Wild plants are not considered specialty crops even though they may be used for the same purpose as cultivated plants.
Crops that are not considered specialty crops include:
Alfalfa
Peanuts
Barley
Primrose
Borage
Quinoa
Buckwheat
Rapeseed oil
Canola
Range grasses
Canola Oil
Rice
Clover
Rye
Cotton
Safflower meal
Cottonseed oil
Safflower oil
Dairy products
Shellfish (marine or freshwater)
Eggs
Sorghum
Field corn
Soybean oil
Fish (marine or freshwater)
Soybeans
Flax
Sugar beets
Flaxseed
Sugarcane
Hay
Sunflower oil
Livestock products
Tobacco
Millet
Tofu
Mustard seed oil
Wheat
Oats
Wild Rice
Peanut oil
USDA encourages states to develop projects solely to 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; 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 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 development of organic and sustainable production practices.
States may wish to consider submitting grants that increase the competitiveness of specialty crop farmers, including Native American and disadvantaged farmers. Increasing competiveness may include developing local and rural agricultural economies, and improving food access in underserved communities.
Be Completed Within Three Calendar Years
Projects must be completed within three calendar years after the grant agreement is signed.
Benefit More Than One Product or Organization
Applications for grant funds should describe how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.
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.
The following are some examples of acceptable and unacceptable projects:
Examples of Unacceptable Projects
A company requests grant funds to purchase starter plants or equipment used to plant, cultivate, and grow a specialty crop for the purpose of making a profit, or to expand production of a single business.
A State requests grant funds to make grants to individual specialty crop businesses or roadside stands to promote their individual business.
Examples of Acceptable Projects
A State requests funding to contract with a university to conduct research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating, and growing a specialty crop in a particular area, the results of which can be shared with many growers throughout the State.
A single grower requests funds to demonstrate the viability of organic small fruit production and partners with Cooperative Extension to publicize the working model of diversification to other regional growers.
A single specialty crop organization requests funds to conduct an advertising campaign that will benefit their specialty crop members.
A single farmer erects high tunnels on their property to extend the growing season of tomatoes and lettuce and conducts a field day and farm tour to encourage other small family farmers to adopt the production methods.
Match Funds Available:
Although there is no specific cap on grant amounts, previous successful proposals have been generally between $5,000 and $20,000. In addition, grants must follow USDA guidelines for eligible spending. Guidelines are available at: www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp<http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp> in Appendix B of the 2010 Guidance Document. The total amount available for grants shifts from year to year, but will be approximately $205,000.
What Criteria Will Be Used in Selection?
The selection committee will be composed of five members, at least three of whom are farmers, who will score each application based on the criteria below. The selection committee will change each year, and members will not vote on projects affecting their crops or organizations that they belong to as either members or board members.
Proposals selection will be based on averaged scores, with committee discussion in the case of multiple proposals receiving the same score.
Points:
* Proposal includes assistance for beginning and/or disadvantaged farmers (15 points)
* Proposal develops new knowledge that can strengthen the operations of specialty crop producers (15 points)
* Proposal responds to an urgent need (15 points)
* Proposal includes a strong outreach / information dissemination component (15 points)
* Proposal's budget demonstrates an efficient use of resources - for example, leverages matching funds (15 points)
* Proposal builds from previous work (5 points)
* Proposal benefits an underrepresented region (Bennington County, Essex County, Franklin County) - if statewide then applicant demonstrates an impact on these counties, for example through partnerships, targeted outreach, etc. (5 points)
* General quality of proposal narrative (5 points)
How Do I Apply?
The first stage, letters of interest, should be a brief outline of your plans that includes:
* Contact information
* Lead organization and partners
* Description of proposed project (including how it helps specialty crop producers)
* Size of request.
Letters of Interest are due to Helen Labun Jordan by 5:00 pm on March 1st.
Electronic copies in Microsoft Word are strongly preferred and can be sent to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Hard copies can be mailed to VT Agency of Agriculture; Attn: Helen Labun Jordan; 116 State Street; Montpelier, VT 05602
**If you do not hear back a confirmation that your letter of interest was received within a week of submitting it, please check to ensure that it has been received.**
The final proposals will follow the USDA guidelines provided at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/scbgp under "Grant Rules & Procedures" - select 2010 SCBGP Guidance Document.
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