OFRF's Ariane Lotti and Mark
Lipson interview Dave White at
NRCS headquarters.

Organic producers and advocates saw evidence of a positive shift in attitude at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this spring. That’s when the department announced a special $50 million Organic Initiative specifically aimed at organic and transitioning farmers wishing to implement conservation practices on their lands.

Application to the special fund, offered through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, began in May and ended in late June.

Despite the narrow application window for round one funds, many saw the initiative as a bold step toward USDA’s recognition of organic agriculture as an emerging and important component of the farm economy. More than 3,700 organic or transitioning farmers applied by the initial deadline.

NRCS Chief Dave White,
Photo from NRCS

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the program. NRCS Chief Dave White said that the program was initiated quickly because it was mandated by the Food, Energy and Conservation Act of 2008, commonly referred to as the 2008 Farm Bill, and had been neglected by the previous administration.

“My primary motivation was carrying out the law. The law in the farm bill says: the secretary ‘shall’ offer this. It’s not a may; it’s not a maybe; it’s not if you think about it or if you feel like it; it’s a ‘shall’,” White said.

White was interviewed recently by Organic Farming Research Foundation staff members Mark Lipson and Ariane Lott at NRCS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Reflecting on the condensed time frame for application, White acknowledged that his agency had a steep learning curve in figuring out how to create and implement the special Organic Initiative. He said he felt it was extremely important to offer the program in fiscal year 2009.

“What we learned this time around, we’ll be able to improve what we do next time around. You were a test case on a couple of levels. ... I really think we need more consistency on how we offer EQIP around the country and this was a wonderful opportunity to try and do that as well,” said White.

White said he expects most of the $50 million to be obligated through the Organic Initiative before the end of fiscal year 2009 on September 30. He adds that he expects the program to be offered again in 2010.

“The only question is to what extent? How much money can we rustle up for it?” White said.