State Conservationist Announces Funding for New Organics Initiative

United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan this week announced $50 million for a new initiative to meet the Obama Administration’s promise to encourage more organic agriculture production. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for South Carolina Niles Glasgow said that the state received $615,000 to assist eligible private landowners. Funding for the initiative is being made available as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Applications received from organic producers, or producers in transition to organic farming, will be accepted under this initiative between May 11 and May 29, 2009.

“Assisting organic producers is a priority of the 2008 Farm Bill, and I hope that South Carolina organic producers, and those transitioning to organic, will work with their local NRCS offices to see if they may be eligible for EQIP assistance,” said Glasgow.

The 2009 Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production. Organic producers may also apply for assistance under general EQIP.

Under the Organic Initiative, core practices will receive special consideration and increased funding. These core practices include: Conservation Crop Rotation; Cover Crop; Nutrient Management; Pest Management; Prescribed Grazing; and Forage Harvest Management. There are also additional conservation practices eligible for financial assistance under this special signup.

To assist with eligibility questions, there are two separate National Screening Tools for applicants (one for producers transitioning for the first time and one for certified organic producers transitioning additional land or adding additional conservation practices). Ranking criteria has been established based on resource concerns that link to the NOP objectives and the core conservation practices.

The 2009 Organic Initiative will be administered by NRCS. Interested producers should visit their nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility. Additional information on the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative is available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/. You can locate your county NRCS office by visiting www.sc.nrcs.usda.gov, and select the Contact Us link at the top of the web page.