This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

18195 

Vol. 72, No. 69 

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc. No. AMS–FV–2007–0046; FV–07–15] 

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) 

Inviting Applications for the Specialty 

Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) announces the 

availability of approximately $6,895,000 

in block grant funds to enhance the 

competitiveness of specialty crops. State 

departments of agriculture interested in 

obtaining grant program funds are 

invited to submit applications to USDA. 

State departments of agriculture, 

meaning agencies, commissions, or 

departments of a State government 

responsible for agriculture within the 50 

States, the District of Columbia, and the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, are 

eligible to apply. State departments of 

agriculture are encouraged to involve 

industry groups, academia, and 

community-based organizations in the 

development of applications and the 

administration of projects. 

DATES: Applications must be 

postmarked not later than April 11, 

2008. 

ADDRESSES: Applications may be sent 

to: SCBGP, Agricultural Marketing 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 

0235, Room 2077 South Building, 

Washington, DC 20250–0235. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Trista Etzig, Phone: (202) 690–4942, email: trista.etzig@usda.gov or your State 

department of agriculture listed on the 

SCBGP Web site at http:// 

www.ams.usda.gov/fv/. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SCBGP is 

authorized under Section 101 of the 

Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 

2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) and is 

implemented under 7 CFR Part 1290 

[Docket No. FV06–1290–1 FR]. The 

SCBGP assists State departments of 

agriculture in enhancing the 

competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops. 

Specialty crops are defined as fruits 

and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, 

and nursery crops (including 

floriculture). Examples of enhancing the 

competitiveness of specialty crops 

include, but are not limited to: 

Research, promotion, marketing, 

nutrition, trade enhancement, food 

safety, food security, plant health 

programs, education, ‘‘buy local’’ 

programs, increased consumption, 

increased innovation, improved 

efficiency and reduced costs of 

distribution systems, environmental 

concerns and conservation, product 

development, and developing 

cooperatives. 

Each interested State department of 

agriculture is to submit an application 

anytime before April 11, 2008 to the 

USDA contact noted in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION section. AMS will work 

with each State department of 

agriculture and provide assistance as 

necessary. State departments of 

agriculture that have not yet applied for 

fiscal year 2006 grant funds must submit 

an application postmarked not later 

than October 11, 2007 to qualify for 

receiving fiscal year 2006 grant funds. 

State departments of agriculture who 

wish to apply for both fiscal year 2006 

and 2007 grant funds at the same time 

may submit one application postmarked 

not later than October 11, 2007. To 

apply for only fiscal year 2007 funds, 

State departments of agriculture must 

submit an application postmarked not 

later than April 11, 2008. 

Other organizations interested in 

participating in this program should 

contact their State Department of 

Agriculture. State departments of 

agriculture specifically named under the 

authorizing legislation should assume 

the lead role in SCBGP projects, and use 

cooperative or contractual linkages with 

other agencies, universities, institutions, 

and producer, industry or communitybased organizations as appropriate. 

Additional details about the SCBGP 

application process for all applicants are 

available at the SCBGP Web site: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/. 

To be eligible for a grant, each State 

department of agriculture’s application 

shall be clear and succinct and include 

the following documentation 

satisfactory to AMS: 

(a) Completed applications must 

include an SF–424 ‘‘Application for 

Federal Assistance’’. 

(b) Completed applications must 

include one State plan to show how 

grant funds will be utilized to enhance 

the competitiveness of specialty crops. 

State departments of agriculture that 

have not yet applied for grant funds 

under the program may submit one 

State plan postmarked not later than 

October 11, 2007 for both fiscal year 

2006 and 2007 grant funds. SCBGP grant 

funds will be awarded for projects of up 

to 3 years duration, which commences 

when the grant agreement is signed. An 

application that builds on a previously 

funded SCBGP project may also be 

submitted. In such cases, the State plan 

should indicate clearly how the project 

compliments previous work. The state 

plan shall include the following: 

(1) Cover page. Include the lead 

agency for administering the plan and 

an abstract of 200 words or less for each 

proposed project. 

(2) Project purpose. Clearly state the 

specific issue, problem, interest, or need 

to be addressed. Explain why each 

project is important and timely. 

(3) Potential Impact. Discuss the 

number of people or operations affected, 

the intended beneficiaries of each 

project, and/or potential economic 

impact if such data are available and 

relevant to the project(s). 

(4) Financial Feasibility. For each 

project, provide budget estimates for the 

total project cost. If submitting one State 

plan for both fiscal year 2006 and 2007 

grant funds, identify which fiscal year 

funding is utilized for each project. If a 

project uses funds from both fiscal 

years, identify the amount of each fiscal 

year’s funding. Also, indicate what 

percentage of the budget covers 

administrative costs. Administrative 

costs should not exceed 10 percent of 

any proposed budget. Provide a 

justification if administrative costs are 

higher than 10 percent. 

(5) Expected Measurable Outcomes. 

Describe at least two distinct, 

quantifiable, and measurable outcomes 

that directly and meaningfully support 

each project’s purpose. The outcome 

measures must define an event or 

condition that is external to the project 

and that is of direct importance to the 


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18196 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 69 / Wednesday, April 11, 2007 / Notices 

intended beneficiaries and/or the 

public. 

(6) Goal(s). Describe the overall goal(s) 

in one or two sentences for each project. 

(7) Work Plan. Explain briefly how 

each goal and measurable outcome will 

be accomplished for each project. Be 

clear about who will do the work. 

Include appropriate time lines. 

Expected measurable outcomes may be 

long term that exceed the grant period. 

If so, provide a timeframe when long 

term outcome measure will be achieved. 

(8) Project Oversight. Describe the 

oversight practices that provide 

sufficient knowledge of grant activities 

to ensure proper and efficient 

administration. 

(9) Project Commitment. Describe 

how all grant partners commit to and 

work toward the goals and outcome 

measures of the proposed project(s). 

(10) Multi-State Projects. If a project is 

a multi-state project, describe how the 

States are going to collaborate 

effectively with related projects. Each 

State participating in the project should 

submit the project in their State plan 

indicating which State is taking the 

coordinating role and the percent of the 

budget covered by each State. 

Each State department of agriculture 

that submits an application that is 

reviewed and approved by AMS is to 

receive $100,000 to enhance the 

competitiveness of specialty crops. In 

addition, AMS will allocate the 

remainder of the grant funds based on 

the proportion of the value of specialty 

crop production in the state in relation 

to the national value of specialty crop 

production using the latest available 

(2005 National Agricultural Statistics 

Service (NASS) cash receipt data for the 

50 States and the District of Columbia 

and 2002 Census of Agriculture data for 

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) 

specialty crop production data in all 

states whose applications are accepted. 

After USDA administrative costs, the 

amount of the base grant plus value of 

production available to each State 

department of agriculture shall be: 

(1) Alabama, $108,926.78 

(2) Alaska, $100,520.67 

(3) Arizona, $133,290.44 

(4) Arkansas, $102,675.16 

(5) California, $652,477.92 

(6) Colorado, $116,139.35 

(7) Connecticut, $107,934.62 

(8) Delaware, $102,403.75 

(9) District of Columbia, $100,000.00 

(10) Florida, $253,750.10 

(11) Georgia, $129,864.25 

(12) Hawaii, $109,201.37 

(13) Idaho, $121,388.06 

(14) Illinois, $111,450.21 

(15) Indiana, $109,567.29 

(16) Iowa, $103,249.43 

(17) Kansas, $102,197.15 

(18) Kentucky, $102,827.56 

(19) Louisiana, $104,950.42 

(20) Maine, $105,806.75 

(21) Maryland, $111,602.37 

(22) Massachusetts, $107,596.35 

(23) Michigan, $136,342.33 

(24) Minnesota, $113,274.97 

(25) Mississippi, $103,626.70 

(26) Missouri, $104,289.46 

(27) Montana, $102,726.15 

(28) Nebraska, $104,133.83 

(29) Nevada, $101,478.01 

(30) New Hampshire, $102,244.91 

(31) New Jersey, $117,036.97 

(32) New Mexico, $108,507.39 

(33) New York, $129,212.32 

(34) North Carolina, $136,155.66 

(35) North Dakota, $109,135.59 

(36) Ohio, $122,689.29 

(37) Oklahoma, $107,188.11 

(38) Oregon, $148,320.35 

(39) Pennsylvania, $128,893.21 

(40) Puerto Rico, $106,053.13 

(41) Rhode Island, $101,417.97 

(42) South Carolina, $110,424.99 

(43) South Dakota, $100,850.02 

(44) Tennessee, $111,629.63 

(45) Texas, $156,488.66 

(46) Utah, $103,135.47 

(47) Vermont, $101,397.90 

(48) Virginia, $111,797.84 

(49) Washington, $182,441.82 

(50) West Virginia, $100,286.87 

(51) Wisconsin, $120,305.36 

(52) Wyoming, $100,695.09. 

Applicants submitting hard copy 

applications should submit one 

unstapled original and one unstapled 

copy of the application package. The 

SF–424 must be signed (with an original 

signature) by an official who has 

authority to apply for Federal 

assistance. Hard copy applications 

should be sent only via express mail to 

AMS at the address noted at the 

beginning of this notice because USPS 

mail sent to Washington, DC 

headquarters is sanitized, resulting in 

possible delays, loss, and physical 

damage to enclosures. AMS will send an 

email confirmation when applications 

arrive at the AMS office. 

Applicants who submit hard copy 

applications are also encouraged to 

submit electronic versions of their 

application directly to AMS via email 

addressed to scblockgrants@usda.gov in 

one of the following formats: Word 

(*.doc); or Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf). 

Alternatively, a standard 3.5 ‘‘ HD 

diskette or a CD may be enclosed with 

the hard copy application. 

Applicants also have the option of 

submitting SCBGP applications 

electronically through the central 

Federal grants web site, http:// 

www.grants.gov instead of mailing hard 

copy documents. Applicants 

considering the electronic application 

option are strongly urged to familiarize 

themselves with the Federal grants web 

site and begin the application process 

well before the application deadline. 

SCBGP is listed in the ‘‘Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance’’ under 

number 10.169 and subject agencies 

must adhere to Title VI of the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964, which bars 

discrimination in all federally assisted 

programs. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621 note. 

Dated: April 5, 2007. 

Lloyd C. Day, 

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing 

Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–6841 Filed 4–10–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Farm Credit System Insurance 

Corporation 

Farm Credit System Insurance 

Corporation Board; Regular Meeting 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the 

regular meeting of the Farm Credit 

System Insurance Corporation Board 

(Board). 

DATE AND TIME: The meeting of the Board 

will be held at the offices of the Farm 

Credit Administration in McLean, 

Virginia, on April 12, 2007, from 10 a.m. 

until such time as the Board concludes 

its business. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Roland E. Smith, Secretary to the Farm 

Credit System Insurance Corporation 

Board, (703) 883–4009, TTY (703) 883–

4056. 

ADDRESSES: Farm Credit System 

Insurance Corporation, 1501 Farm 

Credit Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Parts of 

this meeting of the Board will be open 

to the public (limited space available) 

and parts will be closed to the public. 

In order to increase the accessibility to 

Board meetings, persons requiring 

assistance should make arrangements in 

advance. The matters to be considered 

at the meeting are: 

Open Session 

A. Approval of Minutes 

• January 11, 2007 (Open and 

Closed). 

B. Business Reports 

• FCSIC Financial Report. 

• Report on Insured Obligations. 

• Quarterly Report on Annual 

Performance Plan. 


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