MEMORANDUM

TO: Trista Etzig; Project Manager, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

FROM: Tom Jones; Manager, Marketing and Development Branch

DATE: July 15, 2014

RE: Request to Extend AMS Agreement 12-25-B-ABCD

We would like to extend AMS Agreement 12-25-B-ABCD, which is scheduled to expire on 

September 29, 2014, by 1 year. This would change the expiration date to September 29, 

2015, the most amount of time we can request (3 years in length). Please see the detail 

below that describes the reason and extent of the changes to the project:

JUSTIFICATION:

This additional time is only needed to complete one project in this grant agreement, The 

Rural Areas Specialty Crop Season Extension Project. The adverse weather and personnel 

changes mentioned in the 2nd Annual Performance Report substantially delayed the 

completion of this project. There are not any changes to the scope or the budget of this 

project. Additionally, the Expected Measureable Outcomes mentioned in the project’s 

proposal are still achievable; however, the project’s staff stated that they need additional 

time to complete the project’s tasks and fulfill its outcomes. 

PROGRESS TO DATE:

Six high tunnels were constructed at the agricultural extension station. Three were 

reconstructed after the storms that came through this previous winter. Vegetables were 

planted in the three high tunnels that were not damaged by the storms; while they were 

transplanted into the three reconstructed high tunnels in May for trialing. Different cover 

crops were planted in each high tunnel site to smother the weeds. The project staff continues 

to gather data on the effects of the cover crops and high tunnels to extend the season of the 

different vegetables. Information on the vegetables trial has been conveyed to growers in 

the presentations and grower tours of the high tunnels.

ESTIMATED REMAINING FUNDS:

The project was awarded $150,000 and has spent $95,000 to date. The project’s staff stated 

that they would be able to spend the remaining funds by September 29, 2015. We have 

XXX State Department of Agriculture

Division of Agriculture

Phone: (555) 222-2222

Email: DivisionofAg@XXX.gov
provided a revised project Work Plan (below) that describes when each project task will be 

completed and how the project staff will monitor the completion of the Expected 

Measureable Outcomes.

REVISED TIMETABLE:

What Who When

High tunnel installation (6) and 

planting of vegetables.

Project investigator, Co-Project 

investigator, undergraduate 

students

Complete

NEW - Reinstallation of high 

tunnels (3) 

Project investigator, Co-Project 

investigator, undergraduate 

students

Complete

Data collection of the 

planting/transplanting.

Graduate student April-May 

2013, 2014, 

2015

Grower tours of the high tunnels. Project investigator, Co-Project 

investigator, undergraduate 

students

Summer 2013, 

2014, 2015

Routine maintenance through 

summer and fall. Project 

investigator, Co-Project 

investigator, undergraduate 

students

Summer 2013, 2014, 2015

On-going data collection 

vegetable plant growth. 

Graduate student April-May 

2013, 2014, 

2015

Grower field day. Project Investigator, Co-Project 

Investigator

June 2015

Harvest and data collection of 

vegetables. 

Graduate student April-May 

2013, 2014, 

2015

Publish results in extension articles 

and reports

Project Investigator August 2015

If you have any questions concerning this requested amendment, please feel free to contact 

me. If necessary, I will be more than happy to discuss and ratify this request to ensure that it 

meets the requirements of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Sincerely,
X

Tom Jones

Manager