Get the Support You Need to Grow Organically
Explore step-by-step guides, printable tools, and farmer experiences to help you access USDA programs and funding.
Federal funding is available to help agricultural producers transition to organic production. As part of the larger $300 million USDA Organic Transition Initiative, the Natural Resources Conservation Service has begun making $70 million available to help producers adopt organic management systems to pursue certification. The following resources provide information on specific USDA technical assistance and funding support programs available to farmers. We will continue to update this with additional resources, so be sure to check back often.
Available Resources
Funding On-Farm Innovation: SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants
Learn how organic and transitioning farms can access the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program with our new step-by-step guide.
Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP): Insurance Options for Organic and Transitioning Growers
New to WFRP or not sure it applies to your farm? Our latest toolkit breaks down Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and shows how organic and transitioning growers can use it to protect diverse operations and income streams.
Real Talk on EQIP: One Organic Farm’s Journey Through Federal Funding
(Versión en español a continuación) Three Feathers Farm is a small, BIPOC-led organic farm located on four-and-a-half acres in Morgan Hill, California, a mere twenty minutes south of San Jose. Their story offers a transparent look at what it’s really like to work with NRCS: the benefits, the obstacles, and the lessons they’ve learned.
Field Day Toolkit: Build Community Through Sharing Knowledge
Field days provide a unique space for farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals to come together to share insights, learn from one another, and foster future collaborations. Discover a roadmap and customizable materials to plan, host, and follow up on hosting a successful event at your farm or research site with OFRF’s new Field Day Toolkit.
Why Technical Note 12 Is Such a Big Deal
Discover how Technical Note 12 enhances access to conservation programs for organic farms. Learn how to use it and get tips for working with your NRCS office.
Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) Deadline Announcement
Thanks to the Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has made $75M in cost-share grant funding available to certified organic and transitioning-to-organic growers under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to meet the Conservation Practice Standard for Organic Management (CPS-823). This post and the PDF below provide step-by-step instructions for contacting your local NRCS office [...]
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
NRCS’ EQIP program offers financial assistance and technical support to implement new conservation practices on your farm, with additional support for historically underserved applicants including socially disadvantaged, beginning, veteran, and limited-resource farmers and ranchers.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
The process of obtaining and maintaining organic certification can be costly. The good news is that financial assistance is available through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) to help ease this burden.
Map of TOPP Regions
For an interactive map to identify TOPP partners near you and browse the latest news, resources, and events, visit https://www.organictransition.org/regions/.
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