EXTENSION ANNOUNCED FOR ORGANIC PRODUCER ASSISTANCE

Application deadline has been extended until June 12, 2009

GAINESVILLE, FL – May 20, 2009—The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has extended the application period until June 12, 2009, for qualified applicants for the new Organic Initiative. The sign-up was originally set to close on May 29, 2009.

Florida NRCS has over $1.3 Million available this year for the initiative, which is part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP has a continuous signup period to allow more opportunities to apply but organic producers or producers in transition to organic farming must submit applications on or before June 12, 2009 to receive consideration for funding in fiscal year 2009.

“Helping organic farmers is a priority of NRCS and the recent 2008 Farm Bill,” said Jeffrey Woods, Florida NRCS Acting State Conservationist.

The 2009 Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production.

Farmers and ranchers wishing to apply for financial or technical assistance related to organic agriculture production are encouraged to visit their nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility, www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/index.html. For more information contact Jeffrey Woods, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Programs at 352-338-9515. Additional information on the 2009 EQIP program Organic Initiative is available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/organic.

##

               Last Modified 05/27/2009

< Back to News