$50 Million Organic Initiative (EQIP) Sign-Up Extended
- In the process of or interested in transitioning to organic.
- Already certified organic (or exempt*) and interested in transitioning more acreage to organic.
- Already certified organic (or exempt) and interested in adopting conservation measures on their farm.
- Already certified organic (or exempt) and interested in transitioning more acreage to organic AND adopting conservation measures on their farm.
Payments
Producers who receive EQIP Organic Initiative contracts with NRCS are paid 75 percent of the cost for the organic conservation measures they implement. Beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged producers (those considered “historically underserved” by the USDA) are paid up to 90 percent. The program provides up to $20,000 per year with a maximum total of $80,000 over six years.
May 20th, 2011, is the last day to submit your application for this year’s funding. The process can be complicated, so we urge you to start now.
More Information
OFRF has updated information about the 2011 EQIP Organic Initiative, including application instructions, criteria for applying, information about the practices and payment schedules, and a list of organizations that assist growers in their state, on our EQIP Organic Initiative Resource Page. This page will be updated as needed, so check back frequently.
Please see the NRCS 2011 Guidance Document, which is the USDA’s directive to each state’s NRCS office to implement the EQIP Organic Initiative in 2011.
For an overview of USDA Conservation Programs that apply to organic producers, including EQIP as well as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), please see our page: USDA Conservation Programs for Organic Producers.
If you have any questions, please contact Udi Lazimy, OFRF Policy Organizer, at udi@ofrf.org or 831-426-6606 x 109.
Leave a comment