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Conservation funds available for organic, transitioning producersThe Natural Resource Conservation Service has established the application cut-off for the Organic Initiative as March 12. The Organic Initiative through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program is offered to address specific opportunities in the 2008 farm bill for certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic production. Under this initiative, a producer's conservation goals may include but are not limited to aiding pollinator populations, increasing biodiversity including soil-borne organisms, controlling invasive species, or enhancing water quality. Practices that are linked to one of these resource concerns may be eligible for a conservation payment. Eligible producers for the Organic Initiative are certified organic producers, as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production. Additionally, the applicant must have an interest in an agricultural operation, own or have control of the land (lease or rental agreement) for the length of the contract, and be registered in the USDA Service Center Information Management System database. Eligible producers can apply for financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices to address existing resource concerns on eligible agricultural land. At the time of application, producers who are currently certified organic will need to provide their Organic System Plan reviewed by a USDA-accredited organic certifier when applying for the Organic Initiative. Those applicants who are making the transition to organic production will need to submit a self-certification document to the NRCS acknowledging agreement to develop and implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an organic system plan and the name of a USDA-accredited organic certifying agent that has been contacted to begin the process. Approved applicants can receive up to $20,000 per year with a maximum of $80,000 over six years. Payments are not authorized for activities or practice components that are solely production related and are not linked to an identified resource concern. Payment may not be used for any costs related to organic certification. For more information contact your local USDA Service Center.
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