December 11, 2009
Application Deadlines for 2010 EQIP Approaching Fast
Find out More at Your Local NRCS Office
Earlier this year, the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) vigorously promoted USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative, and many of you may have applied to this program. Did you know that organic growers can also benefit from the regular EQIP? EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to qualifying growers who want to implement conservation measures on their farms. Your status as an organic farmer does not preclude you from applying to the regular EQIP.
Many states have already set deadlines for 2010 sign-up for the regular EQIP and other USDA Conservation Programs. Some of these deadlines arrive as early as mid-December. If you are interested in participating in the regular EQIP, the EQIP Organic Initiative, or other USDA Conservation Programs in 2010, check with your local NRCS Service Center to verify your state’s deadlines.
Your local NRCS office should also help you determine which program will be most beneficial to you. The regular EQIP offers more financial assistance than does the Organic Initiative, but is also more competitive. The 2010 deadlines for the regular EQIP and the EQIP Organic Initiative are quickly approaching; if you want to participate, you need to start the process now.
OFRF will regularly post state deadlines for regular EQIP and the EQIP Organic Initiative, as well as other helpful information and resources on our EQIP Resource Page. Check back often for updated information.
Finally, we want to thank those of you who participated in our recent online survey about the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative. We will be publishing survey results soon, and using the results of the survey to advocate for better integration of organic systems into EQIP. Please stay tuned.
Please contact Tracy Lerman, OFRF Policy Organizer at tracy@ofrf.org if you have any questions.
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