“To solely enhance the competitiveness

of New Mexico’s specialty crops in

domestic or foreign markets.”

What does this mean?

USDA defines specialty crops as “fruits,

vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits,

horticulture, and nursery crops (including

floriculture).”

For a comprehensive list:

› http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp

Request for Proposals

Proposals Reviewed by

Evaluation Committee

and NM Secretary of Agriculture

NMDA Notifies

Applicants

Successful Applicants Complete

Full Proposals

NMDA Submits

State Plan to USDA

USDA-AMS Approval

Sub-Contracts Between Project

Coordinators and

NMSU/NMDA

Projects must:

Help make NM-grown specialty crops more

competitive in the market place

Benefit more than one product or

organization

Be completed within three years

Single organizations, institutions, and individuals

are encouraged to participate as project

partners.

Enhancing food safety GAP/GHP/GMP Research focused on conservation and environmental

outcomes Developing new and improved seed varieties Pest and disease control Developing organic and sustainable production practices Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and

consumption of specialty crops Improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution

systems Developing local and regional food systems Improving food access in underserved communities

Capital Expenditures

General Purpose Equipment

Equipment

Entertainment Activities

Indirect Costs

Special Purpose Equipment

Salary and Wages

Advertising and Public Relations

Travel

Materials and Supplies

Rental Cost of Building and Equipment

Meetings and Conferences

Communication Costs

Training

Does my project solely relate to

specialty crops?

Will it benefit more than one product or

organization? (Benefiting one

commodity is allowed)

Can it be completed within three years?

Relevance: Do the goal and objectives match

the needs or problems?

Effectiveness: Is the proposed approach

practical? Has it been tried elsewhere? How will

changes be measured?

Feasibility: Are the budget and timeframe

realistic? Can it be done?

Impact: What will happen as a result of the project?

How will it make a difference in the community? Who will be affected? How will you know if the results have been achieved?

Longevity: Are there lasting benefits after the end

of the project? How will the project continue after the funding? Will other funds be available to carry forth the project after the grant ends?

Project Title and Abstract

Applicant Details

Project Purpose

Potential Impact

Expected Measurable Outcomes

Work Plan

Budget

Project Title › Should adequately describe the project

Abstract › A concise description of the proposed

project that includes the goal, objectives, and methods to be used

› Written in a manner that the general public can understand

› 200 words or less

A broad or big-picture statement of

what is to be accomplished

Helps guide what you do

Should be verifiable at the end of the

project

Applicant Details

› Applicant Name

› Type of Business/Organization

› Contact Information

› Has this project been submitted to any other

grant program?

› Is this project an extension of a previous

project?

Project Purpose

› Should include the specific issue, problem,

interest, or need to be addressed and why

the project is important and timely

Objective

Problem

Importance

Many school children do not have access

to healthy fruits and vegetables

(PROBLEM).

The School Nutrition Association will

subsidize installation of salad bars in 40

schools to increase access to nutritious

fruits, vegetables, and nuts in school

breakfasts and lunches (OBJECTIVE).

Not only will this result in increased

purchases from specialty crop growers,

but will the evaluation component will

provide a model for other schools in their

efforts to market healthy meals to children

(IMPORTANCE).

Similar to goals, but more specific and more

focused on time frames and measurement

Objectives are the final results that together

achieve the project goal (how the goal will be

accomplished)

Provide a more detailed picture of what is to be

accomplished

Specific statements of what the project will accomplish

Measurable or observable

Achievable

Realistic in recognizing the concrete results a project can actually accomplish

Time-bound (or time-specific)

Use words such as increased, decreased, or other action verbs

Determine how you will collect and analyze

the data and information

Purpose

To conserve X land and water

resources and increase income

of farm families in X County.

Goal

To improve X resource

management and increase the

crop productivity among 85

percent of farmers in X County

by a minimum of 15 percent over

the current average production

levels within six years

Objective

By the end of the project, 85

percent of farmers in X County

will practice appropriate farming

and conservation methods

A common pitfall is

no linkage between

purpose, goals,

objectives, and

budget. Focus on

developing the logic.

Beneficiaries:

› Who are they?

› How many are there?

› How will they be impacted?

What is the potential economic impact?

People/

Operations

Affected

Beneficiaries

Economic Impact

Existing and new specialty crop

growers taking part will receive an

extensive education on many aspects

of direct retail marketing

(BENEFICIARIES).

Based on feedback from growers, we

expect a minimum of 50 attendees at

the workshops (# OF BENEFICIARIES).

Through grower education, farmers will

be exposed to information on how to

grow crops and successfully sell their

produce at direct-to-consumer markets

(how beneficiaries will be IMPACTED.)

A result you can measure showing progress

toward the goal

› Include at least one distinct, quantifiable, and

measureable outcome.

› Does it directly and meaningfully support the

project’s purpose?

› Is it of direct importance to the intended

beneficiaries?

Should encompass:

› GOAL

› PERFORMANCE MEASURE

› BENCHMARK

› TARGET

GOAL

› Realistic

› Specific

› Outcome-oriented

› PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Indicators used to observe progress and measure

actual results compared to expected results

Quantifiable – should be objective and measurable (use

numeric values, percentages, scores, and indices)

Qualitative measures are appropriate in certain

circumstances

› BENCHMARK- What is your starting point?

You can/should use established benchmarks from

industry

If data is unavailable, describe the lack of data

› TARGET- Where you’d like to finish

Realistic

Specific

› Develop performance monitoring plan or data

collection plan

Define data sources

How will it be collected and analyzed to improve

performance?

Should be integrated into work plan and budget

Goal

Benchmark

Targets

Performance Measure

Increase the number of specialty crop farmers following Good Agricultural Practices (GOAL) from the current 10 (BENCHMARK) to 25 in two years (TARGET) measured by the number of GAP audits passed (PERFORMANCE MEASURE).

If you do not measure results, you cannot tell

success from failure.

If you cannot see success, you cannot learn from it.

If you cannot recognize failure, you cannot correct

it.

If you can demonstrate results, you can win public

support.

› Identify activities

Include performance monitoring/data collection plan

› Indicate who will do the work

Specify roles and responsibilities

› Include timelines for each activity with a start

date and end date

› A table format is preferred

› Detailed Budget in Bullet or Table Format

› Budget Categories-

Personnel

Fringe Benefits

Travel

Equipment

Supplies

Contractual

Other

Will the project generate program income?

→ Describe how the income will be used to further enhance

the competitiveness of specialty crops.

Have a third party, who is not familiar

with the project/program, review your

proposal

Edit for grammar and spelling

Recheck budget calculations

Do not wait until the last minute! (Especially if

you plan to ask others, including NMDA, for help)

Description Date

NMDA Releases Request for Proposals

(RFP) and Conducts Outreach

January and February 2015

NMDA Hosts Workshops March 2015

Concept Proposals Due April 20

Evaluation Committee Meets May 2015

Applicants Notified of Status May 2015

Full Grant Proposals Due TBD

State Plan Due to USDA July 8, 2015

USDA Reviews and Approves State Plans August/September

NMDA- Mail Award Letters for Federal SC

Funding

September/October

Conduct Project/Program (Quarterly

Progress Reports and a Final Report are

required.)

October 1 through September 30

NMDA Website – www.nmda.nmsu.edu and www.newmexicotradition.com

NMDA E-mail – specialtycrops@nmda.nmsu.edu

USDA-AMS Website – www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp