The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a free webinar Thursday, Dec. 15 on the agency’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. It will take place 11 a.m.–noon PST. Guest speaker Trista Etzig, manager of the grant program, will give an introduction to the program and explain how to apply. The grants are given to projects that will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Such crops include nursery, horticulture and floriculture crops, as well as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and dried fruits. Typical projects have focused on marketing and promotion, education, production, research, food safety, and pest and plant health. There will be a live question and answer session at the end of the presentation. Preregistration is required no later than Dec. 9, 2011. Click here to sign up. For more information, log on to www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp or contact Trista Etzig at 202- 690-4942 or trista.etzig@ams.usda.gov.