Accessing the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Organic
Initiative for Conversion or Expansion
(5/11/2009)
USDA has announced $50 million for a new initiative to meet the Obama
Administration's promise to encourage more organic agriculture production.
Funding for the initiative is being made available as part of the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Organic producers may also apply for assistance under general EQIP. Under the
Organic Initiative, required minimum core conservation practices will be
determined by specific resource concerns. The practices are: Conservation Crop
Rotation; Cover Crop; Nutrient Management; Pest Management; Prescribed Grazing;
and Forage Harvest Management.
States must consider using any appropriate practice that meets the resource
concern on a particular operation. Applications received from organic producers
or producers in transition to organic farming will be accepted under this
initiative between May 11 and May 29. The 2009 Organic Initiative will be
administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Interested producers
should visit their nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility.
Proposals are due May 29, 2009.
This document gives guidance and strategies to applying for up to $20,000 per
year or up to $80,000 over a 6 year period for organic farmers and to farmers
transitioning to organic farming from the National Resource Conservation Service
(USDA-NRCS). But the timeframe is very short—all applications must be submitted
between May 11th and May 29th, 2009.
http://attra.ncat.org/eqip/
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