USDA Funds Speciality Crops

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced USDA is making available $28.4 million for research and extension projects in fiscal year 2008 to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science- based tools to address needs of specific crops, AgriMarketing reports.

The U.S. specialty crop industry is comprised of producers and handlers of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops, including floriculture.  It is a major contributor to the U.S. agricultural economy, accounting for 10 million harvested cropland acres in 2004.  The total value of U.S. specialty crops is over $50 billion in sales.  Funding for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative was a major initiative in USDA’s farm bill proposal.