Deadline Approaching for USDA Organic Initiative Applications

Bangor, ME – January 28, 2010 – Juan Hernandez, State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has announced that the deadline for submitting applications for the organic initiative, being made available as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), is March 12, 2010. Maine has received more than $480,000 for Fiscal Year 2010 for an initiative to encourage more organic agriculture production.

The 2008 Farm Bill provided funding specifically to help organic farmers and those agricultural producers transitioning to organic farming, and this initiative will help make organic food producers eligible to compete for EQIP funds.

Successful applicants will receive funding to implement conservation practices that have been identified as needed to improve natural resource conditions. Not only do these practices offer significant environmental benefits, but they are also important to growers. Under this organic initiative, five practices will receive a higher payment rate based on organic production costs and requirements. The five practices are: (1) Crop Rotation, (2) Cover Crop, (3) Nutrient Management, (4) Pest Management, and (5) Mulching.

Applications received from organic producers or producers in transition to organic farming by March 12, 2010 will be ranked at that time. If you are a certified organic producer you must submit an Organic System Plan (OSP) at the time of application along with proof of farm ownership. If you are a producer in transition to organic farming, you must provide proof of farm ownership and written self-certification agreeing to develop an OSP and implement conservation practices consistent with EQIP Statute and the OSP.

Note that applications can be taken at any time for this and any other NRCS program; however, only applications received by March 12, 2010 will be considered for this year’s funding for organic producers.

Maine EQIP Website
National Organic Program Initiative Website
National EQIP Website

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