Organic Initiative

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Applications for all USDA NRCS programs are accepted on a continuous basis with application batching dates set regularly. The application batching date for Fiscal Year 2013 EQIP Organic is November 16, 2012. Batching dates will be posted here when they are established.

The Organic Initiative is available in all 50 states for farmers who are certified organic, transitioning to certified organic, or organic exempt according to USDA’s National Organic Program regulations. The Organic Initiative is a subset of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to eligible persons who are willing to use conservation practices to protect and conserve our natural resources.

Participation in the Organic Initiative is open to persons who are certified organic or are transitioning to organic. In order to be eligible, those who are transitioning to organic certification must use conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an Organic System Plan (OSP), and provide the name and contact information of the USDA accredited organic certifier they are working with. Those who are already certified organic must submit a copy of their Organic System Plan to NRCS along with the name and contact information of their organic certifier, and use conservation practices that are consistent with their Organic System Plan.

Conservation practices will be offered that address resource concerns consistent with the Organic System Plan. Eligible practices include but are not limited to Cover Crop, Diversion, Nutrient Management, Pest Management, and Prescribed Grazing. In addition, NRCS offers Conservation Activity Plans that support conservation planning for organic agriculture.

Eligible Conservation Practices

View a list of eligible conservation practices.

How to Apply for USDA-NRCS Conservation Programs

Learn what steps you will need to take to prepare for, and submit, your application to become a USDA-NRCS Conservation Program participant.

Learn more information on the criteria required to become an eligible EQIP applicant.

The NRCS New York Organic Agriculture Web page provides links to valuable resources for new and established certified organic producers.

Financial assistance for this initiative is made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative.

For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center, or visit the USDA-NRCS Organic Initiative Web site.

If you encounter problems with this Web page, please contact the Webmaster at 315-477-6524.

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