HURON -- USDA has announced a new initiative to encourage more organic agriculture production. Funding for the initiative is being made available as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
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.
South Dakota received over $1.1 million in funding, said NRCS State Conservationist Janet Oertly of Huron.
"This is a great opportunity for current organic producers, but especially for people who have been thinking about transitioning to organic production," she said.
Applications received from NOP certified organic producers or producers in transition to organic farming will be accepted May 11-29. Applications will be ranked at that time.
Under the Organic Initiative, required minimum core conservation practices will be determined by specific resource concerns. The practices are: conservation crop rotation, cover crop, nutrient management, pest management, prescribed grazing, and forage harvest management. Appropriate practices that meet the resource concern(s) on a particular operation will be considered.
Oertly says the Organic Initiative signup period is happening quickly, and interested producers should contact their nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility.
"While there, the local NRCS staff also has science-based resources and networking contacts to help producers at any point in their conservation efforts," Oertly said.
Additional information on the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative is available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/.
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