Statewide Organic Initiative - FY 2009

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Program Information

NRCS is providing opportunity for eligible producers to apply for EQIP program benefits specifically to assist growers transitioning to organic production systems and to provide assistance to growers who are currently certified organic operations.  Applicants shall have the opportunity to compete for EQIP benefits separately from other established EQIP funding options.  General program information on EQIP is available on the Oklahoma EQIP web pages and the national EQIP website. Additional support for organic growers can be found on the NRCS national web page for EQIP Organic Support.

EQIP Organic Fact Sheet (PDF; 52 KB)

The EQIP organic initiative has the following criteria:

• Payments through EQIP are for implementation of conservation practices approved in the Field Office Technical Guide that assist growers to meet provisions of an Organic System Plan (OSP) as administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).  Payments are not authorized for activities or practice components which are solely production related and are not linked to an identified resource concern.
• Participants using EQIP to transition to an organic production systems must implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an OSP.
• Participants who already operate certified organic operations must implement EQIP practices according to an approved OSP.
• NRCS must terminate EQIP contracts for producers who are either not pursuing organic certification or are not in compliance with the Organic Food Production Act of 1990.
• EQIP payments may not be used for any costs related to organic certification.  EQIP payments may not to be used to provide an “incentive” for growers to transition to or maintain organic production. 
• Producers who sell less than $5,000 in agricultural products are not required to obtain organic certification or implement practices according to an OSP; however, these producers may voluntarily transition or obtain organic certification.  If producers who sell less than $5,000 in agricultural products elect to pursue organic certification and use EQIP through this special initiative to voluntarily transition to organic certification, they will be subject to the same requirements as all other organic applicants.

Application Process, Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis, but only those received by June 12, 2009, will be considered for the initial selections.  Funding selections will be made on or before July 10, 2009, exclusively from those applications received. Applicants may apply by completing the NRCS-CPA-1200 Application Form and Appendix and submit it to their local NRCS Field Service Center.

EQIP Program Application (NRCS-CPA-1200) and Appendix (PDF; 34 KB)

Self-Certification for Organic Production (DOC; 67 KB)
 
Screening Tool - Certified Organic (PDF; 18 KB)

Screening Tool - Transition to Organic (PDF; 18 KB)

Ranking Criteria - Certified Organic (PDF; 8 KB)

Ranking Criteria - Transition to Organic (PDF; 8 KB)

Eligible Practices and Payment Rates

EQIP Organic Practices and Payment Rates (PDF; 30 KB)

State Program Contact

Richard Zetterberg
Resource Conservationist
Phone: 405-742-1208
Email: Richard Zetterberg

For additional information and assistance, contact your local NRCS Field Service Center.

Last Reviewed/Modified: 05/28/2009

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