The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of approximately $55 million in grant funds, less USDA administrative costs, to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture

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and nursery crops (including floriculture).

State departments of agriculture interested in obtaining grant program funds are invited to submit applications to USDA.

State departments of agriculture, meaning agencies, commissions, or departments of a State government responsible for agriculture within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.

S.

Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply.

Please contact your local State department of agriculture if you are not eligible to apply.

State departments of agriculture are encouraged to conduct outreach regarding the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill to specialty crop stakeholders, socially disadvantaged, and beginning farmers and conduct a competitive grant proposal process.

State department of agriculture contacts can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.

Select “State Contact” from the right navigation bar.

Applications from State departments of agriculture must be submitted by July 11, 201 2.

For more information, please review the Notice of Funds Availability at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-08/pdf/2012-284 9. pdf.