State conservationist announces funding for new organics initiative

By: | SCNOW
Published: May 25, 2009

Signup began on May 11 and will end on May 29 for participation in the state's initiative to encourage more organic agriculture production.

About $615,000 is available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Applications received from organic producers, or producers in transition to organic farming, are being accepted, State Conservationist Niles Glasgow said this past week in a press release about the initiative.

“Assisting organic producers is a priority of the 2008 Farm Bill, and I hope that South Carolina organic producers, and those transitioning to organic, will work with their local NRCS offices to see if they may be eligible for EQIP assistance,” said Glasgow.

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.

Under the Organic Initiative, core practices will receive special consideration and increased funding. These core practices include: Conservation Crop Rotation; Cover Crop; Nutrient Management; Pest Management; Prescribed Grazing; and Forage Harvest Management.

There are also additional conservation practices eligible for financial assistance under this special signup. 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).

Ranking criteria has been established based on resource concerns that link to the NOP objectives and the core conservation practices. The 2009 Organic Initiative will be administered by NRCS. Interested producers should visit their nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility.

You can locate your local NRCS office by visiting www.sc.nrcs.usda.gov, and select the Contact Us link at the top of the web page.