December 18, 2009
UPDATE: USDA Allocates $50 million for
2010
EQIP Organic Initiative
Sign-up Deadlines Arriving Soon
Visit Your Local NRCS Office for More Info
Last week we sent you an OFAN alert encouraging you to consider applying to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which includes the Organic Initiative. We recently learned that the USDA is again allocating $50 million specifically for the EQIP Organic Initiative in 2010. This is good news for growers transitioning to organic and certified organic growers who want to transition new ground or implement new conservation practices on their farms. However, 2010 ranking cutoff dates* for both the regular EQIP and the Organic Initiative are quickly approaching; if you want to be considered for either program, you should start the process right away.
To find out the 2010 ranking cutoff dates* for regular EQIP, check with your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office. The 2010 ranking cutoff date* for the EQIP Organic Initiative is not yet set, but will likely be in early 2010. Your local office should help you determine the best program for your operation.
If you have a pending EQIP Organic Initiative application from 2009, or if you applied for the program after your state’s 2009 ranking cutoff date, your application should still be eligible for the 2010 ranking. However, you may benefit from revising the application. Applicants with pending or deferred 2009 applications should receive a letter from NRCS explaining what their options are for 2010. Check with your local NRCS Service Center to learn the status of your application.
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 regularly for updated information.
Please contact Tracy Lerman, OFRF Policy Organizer, at tracy@ofrf.org if you have any questions.
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*While the application process for EQIP and the EQIP Organic Initiative is continuous, NRCS state offices periodically rank all of the applications they have to determine which ones will receive contracts. These ranking cutoff dates typically occur once a year but states sometimes have more than one ranking round.
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