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 Âmake 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.Â
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.