PORTLAND, Oregon, May 17, 2024 โ The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with Oregon Tilth and the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) to strengthen organic expertise for conservation programs and expand relationships among producers who want to make the transition to organic. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing $5 million in these five-year partnerships, which are part of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), a Department-wide effort to support agricultural producers interested in the transition to organic. Additionally, NRCS encourages organic and transitional producers to apply for assistance through its conservation programs that have currently increased OTI and Inflation Reduction Act funding.
โOrganic standards are closely aligned with NRCS conservation practices, so producers transitioning to organic are a natural fit for us,โ said David Rose, NRCS acting state conservationist in Oregon. โThese new partnerships will allow us to increase our organic competency so we can better assist producers with the organic transition.โ
These OTI partnerships were part of a broader strategy. organic ad conducted by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on May 15, 2024, which also included the Organic Market Development Grant program and the Organic Certification Cost-Sharing Program.
Partnerships with OTI include seven new staff positions. An OFRF organic research specialist will disseminate the latest in organic research and national training to NRCS staff, and Oregon Tilth will establish six organic specialists across the country who will develop regional networks, provide hands-on organic training for growers, and support NRCS staff. that help. farmers transitioning to organic. The organic specialist positions will be filled by Oregon Tilth staff who will work with organic partners, including Marbleseed, the California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation and the Organic Agronomy Training Service.
Conservation Assistance
As part of OTI, NRCS introduced a new organic management standard in 2023 to allow producers flexibility to obtain assistance and education, such as attending workshops or seeking help from experts or mentors. The management standard supports the conservation practices required for organic certification and can provide reimbursement for lost revenue for drops in production during the transition period.
In 2023, NRCS allocated $12 million in 22 states and signed 112 contracts with transition producers.
In addition to the new standard, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to assist with conservation plans that support organic transition and organic management, cover crops and crop rotation, field and hedgerow edges, high tunnels, irrigation practices, crop management. nutrients, mulch and pest management. Many of these practices are NRCS Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Activities and eligible to receive Inflation Reduction Act funding.
Higher payment rates and other options are available for underserved producers, including socially disadvantaged, beginning, veteran, and limited-resource farmers and ranchers.
Producers who are beginning or are in the process of transitioning to organic certification are encouraged to apply at their location. USDA Service Center. If a state deadline is missed, applications will be considered for the next fiscal year.
More information
These NRCS partnerships are part of OTI's multi-agency effort to support organic and transition producers, including farmer-to-farmer mentoring, direct crop insurance support in 2023, and market development projects.
OTI Plugins Existing aid for organic producers.including the Farm Service Agency Organic Certification Cost Share Program, (OCCSP) which provides cost sharing for producers who obtain or renew their organic certification. Registration for OCCSP 2024 begins May 15 and ends October 31.
For more information on organic farming, visit farmers.gov/organic or contact your local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps through Sign in to your Farmers.gov account. If you don't have an account, sign up today.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans every day in many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming the US food system with greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and flows. of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in clean energy infrastructure and capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce most representative of the United States. For more information, visit usda.gov.
