The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
is being implemented to provide State assistance for specialty
crops to accomplish the goals of increasing fruit, vegetable, and
nut consumption and improving the competitiveness of United State
specialty crop producers.
US Code:
7 USC 1621 note Name of Law: Specialty Crops Competitiveness
Act of 2004
The information collection
requirements in this request are needed for the implementation of
the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), which operates
pursuant to the authority of Section 101 of the Specialty Crops
Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 USC 1621 note). Section 101 directs
the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to States for each of
the fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to be used by State Departments
of Agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty
crops. The SCBGP mission is to accomplish the goals of increasing
fruit, vegetable, and nut consumption and improving the
competitiveness of United States specialty crop producers. The 2006
Appropriations Bill authorized funding and directed the USDA to
provide $7 million in specialty crop block grants to states. The
Program is voluntary. Each State that applies for the Program is to
receive $100,000 to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
In addition, States would receive an amount representing the
proportion of the value of specialty crop production in the State
to the national value of specialty crop production for the previous
calendar year in all States whose applications are accepted. All
fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico are eligible to participate. The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) is establishing eligibility and application
requirements, the review and approval process, and grant
administration procedures for the SCBGP. The SCBGP is executed in
accordance with applicable parts of USDA's Uniform Federal
Assistance Regulations (7 CFR 3015 et seq).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.