Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Announces Funding for New Organics Initiative

More Than $1 Million in Funding Available in Oregon
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Bill White, NRCS Program Manager: (503) 414-3085, Bill.White@or.usda.gov 

PORTLAND, OR, May 11, 2009 –Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan has announced $50 million for a new initiative to meet the Obama Administration’s promise to encourage more organic agriculture production. Funding for the initiative, including more that $1 million for Oregon farmers and ranchers, is being made available as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is taking applications from organic producers and producers in transition to organic farming between May 11 and May 29, 2009.

“Assisting organic producers is a priority of the 2008 Farm Bill as well as for Secretary Vilsack and the Obama Administration,” said Merrigan. “The objective of this initiative is to make organic food producers eligible to compete for EQIP financial assistance.”

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 the general EQIP program that is open to both organic and non-organic producers.

Through the Organic EQIP signup, farmers, ranchers and dairy operators may apply for financial assistance and technical expertise to plan and install conservation measures, such as: nutrient management, pest management, prescribed grazing, forage harvest management, cover crops, conservation crop rotations, and more.

A complete list of eligible practices and payment rates and additional information on the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative are available on the Oregon NRCS Web site at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/organic.html.

Interested producers can determine their eligibility and submit an application at their nearest USDA Service Center, listed with federal agencies in the telephone book and posted online at: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/basindir.html.
 

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