News Grants Available to Promote Specialty Crops Posted 23 June 2009 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is eligible to receive $242,767 grant funds through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and as a result will make grants available to help enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa.  The Department will receive the funds from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. “Specialty crops are a very important part of Iowa agriculture as they allow farmers to diversify and give customers access to locally grown products,” Northey said.  “These funds are available to support food safety, research and marketing efforts that will encourage Iowans to choose the products that are produced right here in our state.” Iowa agricultural non-profit organizations, cooperatives, specialty crop industry associations or organizations, and producer groups are all eligible to apply for funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.  In addition, individuals, partnerships and universities may participate in the grant program by developing and submitting proposals through an eligible applicant.  Private individuals and companies are not eligible to apply. Grant awards will be considered up to a maximum of $15,000.  Guidelines for the allocation of grant funds will be Food Safety 20%, Research 30%, and Marketing 50%.  Administrative costs and indirect costs are not allowed. Grant funds shall be used for projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops that benefit the specialty crop industry as a whole and will not be awarded for projects that directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. “Specialty Crops” that are eligible under this program are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Proposals must be received by IDALS on or before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2009.  For more information visit the IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant program at the Department’s web site at www.IowaAgriculture.gov. The Department also recently announced that specialty crop stakeholders are encouraged to consider submitting public comment to identify their priorities for the Program and is also establishing a new Review Committee to help review, evaluate, and make recommendations on grant proposals submitted to the Department. Iowans interested in learning more about the program or submitting comment about the program can email.

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