MEMORANDUM

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

FROM: Tom Jones; Manager, Marketing and Development Branch

DATE: April 15, 2015

RE: Request to Amend the Budget for AMS Agreement 12-25-B-XXXX

The XXX State Department of Agriculture (the Department) would like to amend the projects

entitled Enhancing Sustainable Specialty Crop Production and Training Series to Increase 

Local Fruit and Vegetable Production at the Local Market in AMS Agreement 12-25-BXXXX. Please see the detail below that describes the reason and extent of the changes to the 

project:

JUSTIFICATION:

Upon completion of the project entitled Training Series to Increase Local Fruit and 

Vegetable Production at the Local Market, the Department’s staff realized that funds in the 

amount of $3,243 had not been utilized. This is due to financial efficiencies found within the 

project that saved money while maintaining the continuity of the project. This is 26 percent 

of this project’s budget ($12,669). The Department has worked with the Farm Extension & 

Research Center to determine the best usage of these funds. As a result of this effort, the 

Department requests to redirect these unused funds to the project entitled Enhancing 

Sustainable Specialty Crop Production in order to increase the number of specialty crop 

production and season extension workshops held during the 2015 calendar year from two 

(June 2015 and September 2015) to four (June 2015, August 2015, September 2015, and 

November 2015).

DESCRIPTION:

With the additional funding of $3,243, the Farm Extension & Research Center plans to hold 

two additional two-day workshops (August 2015 and November 2015) to train local specialty 

crop producers about specialty crop production innovations and opportunities to extend the 

season of their crops. This will be an augmentation of the existing two, which will be held as 

a result of the amount of program income accrued from the previous year’s workshops and 

Apprenticeship Program ($5,210). 

XXX State Department of Agriculture

Division of Agriculture

Phone: (555) 222-2222

Email: DivisionofAg@XXX.gov
Specifically, the additional funds will be used to facilitate the two additional two-day 

workshops by providing funds for room rental and speaker fees.

Cost Category Original Amended

Supplies $ 17,800 $ 17,800

Contractual 5,000 5,000

Other 0 3,243

Total SCBGP Funds: $ 22,800 $ 26,043

Other ($3,243.00)

Room rental for the two-day workshops at the local community center amounts to $310.75 

per day for a total of $1,243. This fee grants access to all the facility’s technological 

equipment and capabilities, which includes Internet access, audio/video presentation 

capabilities, etc. 

There will also be two speakers that specialize in specialty crop production and season 

extension for these workshops. Their fees amount to $500 per workshop, which amounts to 

$2,000.

Program Income ($1,500.00)

These workshops will also require a small registration fee ($25 per participant). We expect 

that approximately 30 specialty crop producers will participate in each workshop (30 X 2 X 

$25 = $1,500).

These additional funds will be reinvested into the program and will be used for printing and 

advertising associated with these workshops.

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