Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments in U.S. Agriculture. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) provides specific opportunities for organic producers and those transitioning to organic farming. Louisiana farmers who are transitioning to organic or who are currently certified organic can now apply to receive assistance under the Organic Initiative through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers EQIP and is now taking applications for the Organic Initiative. Under the Organic Initiative, approved applicants can receive up to $20,000 per year or $80,000 over six years.
A number of "core" organic conservation practices may be funded through the Organic Initiative, including cover crops, conservation crop rotation, prescribed grazing, pest management, nutrient management, and forage harvest management. All conservation practices offered under "general" EQIP are also available through the Organic Initiative, including but not limited to fence and watering facilities for rotational grazing, erosion control practices, irrigation management, field borders, etc.
EQIP is a voluntary conservation program reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, eligible producers may receive financial and technical help with structural, vegetative, and management conservation practices on agricultural land and private non-industrial forestland.
Applications for EQIP are taken continuously throughout the year. However, to be considered for Fiscal Year 2009 funding under the Organic Initiative, producers need to have an application signed and returned to their local NRCS office by June 12, 2009. Applicants who are currently certified organic will need to include their organic system plan (OSP) reviewed by a USDA
accredited organic certifier when applying for financial assistance in the Organic Initiative under EQIP. Applicants who are transitioning to organic will need to submit a self-certification form to the NRCS acknowledging that agree to develop and implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an organic system plan. The self-certification form may be obtained at time of application from any NRCS Service Center.
Some participants are eligible to receive a higher payment rate; those are limited resource farmers, beginning farmers, and socially disadvantaged groups. For more information, go to www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/SLB_Farmer/. For more information in Jackson Parish visit the NRCS Ruston Field Office at 1803 Trade Drive in Ruston or contact us at (318) 255- 3136 extension 3. For more information in Winn Parish visit the NRCS Natchitoches Field Office at 6949 LA Hwy 1 Bypass in Natchitoches or contact us at (318) 357- 8366 extension 3. For more information in Caldwell Parish visit the NRCS Columbia Field Office at 7128 Hwy 165 South in Columbia or contact us at (318) 649-2651 extension 3.
You can also learn more about the NRCS and Farm Bill programs by visiting us on the Web at http://www.la.nrcs.usda.gov/ or by contacting the Dugdemona SWCD.
The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers EQIP and is now taking applications for the Organic Initiative. Under the Organic Initiative, approved applicants can receive up to $20,000 per year or $80,000 over six years.
A number of "core" organic conservation practices may be funded through the Organic Initiative, including cover crops, conservation crop rotation, prescribed grazing, pest management, nutrient management, and forage harvest management. All conservation practices offered under "general" EQIP are also available through the Organic Initiative, including but not limited to fence and watering facilities for rotational grazing, erosion control practices, irrigation management, field borders, etc.
EQIP is a voluntary conservation program reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, eligible producers may receive financial and technical help with structural, vegetative, and management conservation practices on agricultural land and private non-industrial forestland.
Applications for EQIP are taken continuously throughout the year. However, to be considered for Fiscal Year 2009 funding under the Organic Initiative, producers need to have an application signed and returned to their local NRCS office by June 12, 2009. Applicants who are currently certified organic will need to include their organic system plan (OSP) reviewed by a USDA
accredited organic certifier when applying for financial assistance in the Organic Initiative under EQIP. Applicants who are transitioning to organic will need to submit a self-certification form to the NRCS acknowledging that agree to develop and implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an organic system plan. The self-certification form may be obtained at time of application from any NRCS Service Center.
Some participants are eligible to receive a higher payment rate; those are limited resource farmers, beginning farmers, and socially disadvantaged groups. For more information, go to www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/SLB_Farmer/. For more information in Jackson Parish visit the NRCS Ruston Field Office at 1803 Trade Drive in Ruston or contact us at (318) 255- 3136 extension 3. For more information in Winn Parish visit the NRCS Natchitoches Field Office at 6949 LA Hwy 1 Bypass in Natchitoches or contact us at (318) 357- 8366 extension 3. For more information in Caldwell Parish visit the NRCS Columbia Field Office at 7128 Hwy 165 South in Columbia or contact us at (318) 649-2651 extension 3.
You can also learn more about the NRCS and Farm Bill programs by visiting us on the Web at http://www.la.nrcs.usda.gov/ or by contacting the Dugdemona SWCD.
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