The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have been busy of late announcing federal funding for a variety of projects, initiatives, and research.On Wednesday the USDA announced the department was awarding over $46 million through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative for research in areas and issues that are critical to specialty crop agriculture. Vilsack issued this statement in the USDA news release on this funding, ‘"Specialty crops are an important part of American agriculture, valued at nearly $50 billion every year . . . This significant investment into research, education and extension will enable specialty crop producers to improve their products and increase their profitability."
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative was included in the 2008 Farm Bill to support the specialty crop industry. The initiative has five areas of focus: 1) improve crops through breeding and genetic research; 2) deal with pest and disease threats; 3) improve production; 4) development of new technologies and other innovations and 5) improve food safety. Each area of focus received “at least 10 percent of available funds.” To see a list of the funding recipients, click here.
Also on Wednesday, the department announced that more than $5 million has been awarded to sixteen different organizations “to increase access to healthy, affordable local foods. Secretary Vilsack issued this statement in the news release, ‘"Building local sustainable food systems is a key step in fighting hunger and obesity, a priority for USDA and for the Obama Administration. . . These grants are an important part of USDA's new 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative and put funds in low-income communities and areas of need that struggle with access to healthy, nutritious food. They are critical if we are to achieve the President's goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015 and improving the nutrition and health for all Americans."’
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Community Food Projects program selected the sixteen recipients. The USDA reports that this programs goals are to, “(1) meet the food needs of low-income individuals; (2) increase the food self-reliance of low-income communities; (3) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues; and (4) meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to infrastructure improvement and development, planning for long-term solutions and the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.” To see a list of recipients click here.
Finally, also on Wednesday, Secretary Vilsack announced that $117.3 million in water and environmental projects is being awarded in the form of loans and grants as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the stimulus bill). Secretary Vilsack issued this statement, "Recovery Act projects are helping rural communities of all sizes build a foundation for economic strength, future prosperity, and a healthy environment . . . The 31 water and wastewater projects we're announcing today are helping to achieve the Obama Administration's economic recovery goals to rebuild and revitalize the nation's infrastructure while creating or retaining jobs."’ To see a list of projects and read about some of the projects selected, click here.
Posted: 11/19/09
