Farmers and ranchers transitioning to organic as well as established organic producers have another opportunity to apply for Environmental Quality Incentives Program Organic Initiative funding to assist their organic efforts. The EQIP Organic Initiative provides a 75 percent share of the cost of implementing organic conservation measures to those who qualify. The level is 90{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} for beginning, limited-resource and socially-disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The deadline for this application period is May 20, 2011.
Traci Bruckner of the Center for Rural Affairs says – it’s unfortunate that farmers have a very small window to sign up for the program and it’s during the busiest time for farmers – the middle of planting season. Farmers who want to apply for these funds should visit their local Natural Resource Conservation Service office.
According to Bruckner, under the program farmers and ranchers can receive compensation for six core conservation practices: conservation crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, nutrient management, rotational grazing, and forage harvest management. To help, the Center for Rural Affairs operates a Farm Bill Helpline at 402-687-2199.
Source: NAFB News Service
Posted by Haylie Shipp
