Release No.: 152-15
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the deadline for multi-state partners to submit proposals for the 2015 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP). Proposals are due via email to participating state departments of agriculture by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Dec. 15, 2015. (See the SCMP website for the full list of participating states and email addresses.)
Created by the 2014 Farm Bill, the SCMP makes available approximately $3 million to help develop solutions to problems affecting the specialty crop industry across state boundaries. AMS administers the program, which is designed to support food safety and research; address plant pests, disease, and crop-specific issues; and increase marketing opportunities for specialty crops which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. USDA encourages partners to submit projects related to the following priority areas: benefitting underserved communities and veterans, improving producer capacity to comply with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act, developing adaptation and mitigation strategies for farmers in drought-stricken regions of the country, increasing opportunities for new and beginning farmers, developing strong local and regional food systems, protecting pollinator habitats and improving pollinator health, and supporting the growth of organic specialty crops.
USDA is calling for specialty crop producer associations and groups, other state agencies, Tribal governments, universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholder groups and organizations to submit proposals to one of the participating state departments of agriculture. Proposals must include partners located in at least two different states to qualify. Participating state departments of agriculture will accept SCMP applications and those that meet the requirements outlined in the 2015 SCMP Request for Applications must be submitted to AMS via www.grants.gov by Jan. 14, 2016. Multi-state partners from states that are not participating may still apply by submitting their applications to one of the participating states. Email addresses for SCMP participating state contacts are available at the SCMP website.
USDA encourages multi-state partners to select and contact a participating state department of agriculture soon to receive timely updates on the SCMP application process in the coming weeks. Participating state departments of agriculture will:
- Screen proposals to ensure that they are complete and meet the basic requirements outlined in the 2015 SCMP Request for Applications.
- Submit applications to AMS via www.grants.gov by Jan. 14, 2016.
- Assume administrative responsibility for any application they submit that is selected for funding.
- Establish sub-grants and/or contracts with the multi-state partners to complete the project.
A definition of specialty crops and complete list is available at the AMS website.
For more information visit the SCMP website or contact Janise Zygmont by email: Janise.Zygmont@ams.usda.gov or phone: (202) 720-5024.
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