FW: WFAN> specialty crop money

L* B*

For those of yoouu involved in entreprenurial urban ag, farmers' markets,
etc.

> Urgent notice!
> Federal grant money from the recently passed emergency farm assistance
> bill is being disbursed to states this month with USDA guidance that
> they are to be spent for specialty crop production assistance. Each
> state will be receiving more than $500,000. Specialty crops are defined
> in the legislation as "any agricultural crop, except wheat, feed grains,
> oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, and tobacco."
> 
> States have broad discretion in how they utilize the funds, however,
> USDA's letter offered some suggestions for how the funds might be used
> including (1) pest and disease prevention, control, and eradication; (2)
> food safety; (3) research; (4) market promotion; (5) WIC Farmers'
> Markets; and (6) other areas that will put the funds "to the best use to
> benefit agriculture in your state."  Early indications are that most
> plan to use the money to support specialty crops production. Funds must
> be disbursed to the states by Sep. 30, 2001.
> 
> For information on how your state plans to use or distribute its
> Specialty Crops block money, or how it intends to determine  how to use
> the money (some may hold meetings to gather input) contact your state's
> Secretary or Commissioner of  Agriculture.
> 
> Background information about the Specialty Crops block grant program
> can  be found on the National Association of State Departments of
> Agriculture  (NASDA) Web site at
> http://www.nasda.org/news/newsletter110.html
> 
> Ali Webb, WKKF Foundation
> 
> 
> 
> Denise O'Brien
> Coordinator
> Women, Food and Agriculture Network

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