USDA offers farmers assistance in transition to organic

Back to News Release Archive

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa farmers transitioning to organic production and those who want to increase conservation practices on certified organic acres are eligible for more than $1.4 million in federal funds and technical assistance. The USDA announced May 5 that $50 million from the 2008 farm bill would be available to organic farmers through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

"This is great news for Iowa farmers, especially those who have been considering the transition to organic but did not have support," said Jerry DeWitt, director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. "More importantly, this new program is a recognition of the many contributions of organic agriculture to the health of our environment in water quality, increased biodiversity and soil quality, to name a few."

The Leopold Center has supported organic agriculture research and outreach programs at Iowa State University since 1997. Research plots at the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm near Greenfield led by Kathleen Delate of the ISU agronomy and horticulture departments are believed to be among the longest-running and largest comparison sites of organic and conventional crops in the nation.

Delate also termed the USDA announcement historic, but said the challenge will be to inform producers about the three-week signup period that begins May 11.

"The EQIP funding contracts are geared for small- and medium-sized farming operations," she said. "But to ensure consideration in this pool of funds, producers must file applications with their local NRSCS offices no later than June 13."

Funding under the organic conversion section of the bill is capped at not more than $20,000 per farm per year, and not more than $80,000 per farm in any six-year period. The funds are available to farms converting to organic production, farms expanding their organic production, or existing organic farms that can use conservation support to reach even higher levels of environmental performance.

To find information about NRCS offices in Iowa, go to http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov, or contact the Iowa State Conservationist's office in Des Moines at (515) 284-6655. 

Back to News Release Archive

The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/05-06-2009/usda-offers-farmers-assistance-transition-organic on 01/21/2013