Federal Assistance Available to Producers Transitioning to Organic Farming

Bangor, ME – June 15, 2009 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maine has a new initiative to assist producers transitioning to organic farming develop a “Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition”. Technical and financial assistance is being made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

The 2008 Farm Bill highlights the availability of technical and financial assistance to help producers of all commodities meet their conservation goals, including producers transitioning to organic farming and currently certified organic producers. The assistance from NRCS through the EQIP program helps producers plan and implement conservation practices to allow their organic operations to be environmentally sustainable.

A Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition is a conservation activity plan (CAP) documenting decisions by producers who agree to implement a system of conservation practices which assist the producer to transition from conventional farming systems to an organic production system. “It is a specialized conservation practice plan that requires a higher level of expertise than most NRCS staff is able to provide and does not fall under the regular technical assistance provided by NRCS,” said Juan Hernandez, State Conservationist for NRCS in Maine. “Therefore, the participant must hire a Certified Technical Service Provider to develop the plan in order to be eligible for NRCS financial assistance.”

The Maine Organic Farmer and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is the first entity in Maine, and nationwide, certified to write Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition CAPs. "MOFGA is excited about being an NRCS Technical Service Provider and we look forward to working with them to help provide more technical assistance on organic farming issues," said Russell Libby, Executive Director of MOFGA. “I encourage those transitioning to organic farming to contact NRCS for assistance”.

A conservation activity plan must be approved in a participant’s contract as a financial assistance item in order for the participant to receive the 75 percent cost-share for the plan development. Specific to this initiative, a Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition CAP will provide financial assistance to pay for the conservation planning portion of the Organic Systems Plan required for organic certification. This financial assistance does not apply to existing certified organic producers.

Applications will be funded as requests are received and eligibility has been determined. A total of $200,000 is available in Fiscal Year 2009 for the development of conservation activity plans.

For more information about this initiative and other NRCS programs, contact your local USDA Service Center listed in your telephone directory under U.S. Government or visit www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.

Maine Environmental Quality Incentives Program Website

National Environmental Quality Incentives Program Website

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