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Sign Up for Farm Bill Programs
CCOF members and others who are interested in accessing any of the new Farm Bill programs should go to their local NRCS offices to sign up. Rulemaking on NRCS programs continues to progress, and the first step for taking advantage of any programs is to sign up, even if the current year's allocation has been distributed. Conservation cost share applications for the popular Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are now being accepted for funding consideration at your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices.
You may be eligible for a number of programs, including the Organic Certification Cost Share program, Organic Conversion/Transition and other conservation programs, and the Crop Insurance Reform for Organic Farms program (which is admistered by the Risk Management Agency -- RMA). Applications for those programs administered by NRCS may be submitted at any time during the year.
Organic Certification Cost Share Funds Available
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Sept. 18, 2008 that $22 million in federal funds are available for organic certification cost assistance. The funds are available for producers and handlers of organic agricultural products in any state of the United States of America, its territories, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
The National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program, authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 6523), will allocate funds in proportion to the number of organic producers and handlers within each state. The states, in turn, will reimburse each eligible producer or handler up to 75 percent of its organic certification costs, not to exceed $750.
Much confusion over when these funds will be available has occurred since this announcement. One article stated incorrectly that "organic producers and handlers have one week to send in paperwork for part of the $22 million in federal funds available for organic certification cost share." In reality, it was the state departments of agriculture that had less than one week’s notice to process the contract by which the organic certification cost share program would be administered. However, the individual producer or handler has how ever much time each administering office gives them – in California’s case, this cost share program won’t even be launched for several weeks, until California's State Organic Program program can determine a fair and equitable way to distribute California’s funds. California producers/handlers will be contacted by the state program regarding how to access this program. If individual producers/handlers go directly to USDA for information on this funding, they will be directed to their individual state office that is distributing the money. CCOF has asked those organizations publishing inaccurate information on this situation to retract their information and replace it with accurate information, as soon as possible. Please contact CCOF's Policy Director, Claudia Reid, if you have any questions.
CCOF Celebrates Advocacy Victory with Fair Share for Organic in Farm Bill
The 2008 Farm Bill is a vast improvement for organic agriculture over the 2002 Farm Bill. In addition to the increased research, education and extension funding, the 2008 Farm Bill addresses other factors that are limiting organic production in the U.S., including:
- providing $5 million for collection of economic data about organic production and markets;
- providing $22 million to offset part of farmers’ organic certification costs;
- taking steps to eliminate bias against organic growers in crop insurance programs;
- establishing financial and technical support for conversion to organic production.
For details on 2008 Farm Bill provisions related to organic agriculture, please visit the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) website.
Farm Bill - Organic Research Funds Obtained
After months of your letters, phone calls and hard work, organic farmers and activists won a much-needed boost to the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI - USDA’s
premier organic ag research program) in the 2008 Farm Bill (the Food, Conservation and Energy Act). And now, Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) grant applications are available, with a deadline of March 16, 2009.
Get Involved! Advocate, Educate, Speak Out and Spread the Word
Contact Tracy Lerman at OFRF to sign up for updates and action alerts. For more information, email Tracy at tracy@ofrf.org.
- Speak Out! Respond to Farm Bill action alerts by sending emails or calling your Member of Congress; you can communicate directly with and/or find out who your representative is at: house.gov/writerep
- Write letters to the editor or op-ed pieces for your local newspaper
- Educate others! Host a meeting in your community about the Farm Bill
- Spread the Word! Encourage your friends and colleagues to get involved
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