The U.S. Department of Agriculture Tuesday announced $50 million in funds to encourage more organic agriculture production.
Farmers will have three weeks to apply for funds to help pay the cost of converting to organic production. Registration will run from May 11-29.
Funding is being made available as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Farmers can receive a maximum of $20,000 a year per farm in organic transition funding and up to $80,000 per farm in six years.
The following practices are eligible for support conservation crop
rotation; cover crop; nutrient management; pest management; prescribed
grazing; and forage harvest management.
Speaking to the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said: "The objective of this initiative is to make organic food producers eligible to compete for EQIP financial assistance."
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).
Additional information is available at the link below.
Loading...