Funding up 50% over previous year, thanks to provision Pingree pushed for in the Farm Bill
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that Maine will get $600,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants, a 50% increase over the previous year's funding. Pingree, who serves on the Appropriations Committee that sets funding levels for the US Department of Agriculture, successfully pushed for a significant increase in funding for the program.
"This is great news for Maine and will help support the state's farmers," Pingree said. "Whether it's a blueberry grower Down East or a small vegetable farm in western Maine, this grant money will help farmers increase the value of their crops through research, planning, and educational programs. Farmers can do a lot with a little bit of money and this funding will go a long way in helping grow Maine's farm economy.
'Specialty crops' are really the food that most consumers eat—apples, tomatoes and carrots for example. This program provides funding for research and marketing to help raise the value of these crops. (Examples of how the program was used in 2013 in Maine are on page 20 of this document: http://goo.gl/Ot7ObP)
Last year Maine got $400,000 in funding and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry divided the money up for eight projects around the state.
The 2014 Farm Bill, which sets the nation's agriculture policy every five years, was signed into law by President Obamaearlier this year. Pingree wrote and advocated for numerous provisions that will promote local agriculture, sustainable farming, and help young farmers.
