Funding Information

What gets funded and how is funding calculated?

Each state or local NRCS office has specific dollars per acre offered for specific NRCS conservation practices.  Under this program, organic producers can receive higher dollars than usually offered for the 6 core practices identified as being important to both organic agriculture and the NRCS.

To determine their payments, the producer will need to obtain the dollars per acre offered for these practices in their region (either from their local NRCS office or the NRCS website http://www.nrcs.usda.gov) and then multiply the locally set numbers by the multiplier associated with the core practice to learn what they are eligible to receive as organic producers.

While the 6 core practices offer more dollars to those enrolled in the organic initiative program, farmers can work with their states and receive further funding for other NRCS conservation practices offered in their state.

This organic initiative funding is limited to $20,000 per farm per year, and up to $80,000 over six years.

Practice payments may vary by state. Funding can range between 50% - 75% of the cost of the practice. Inquire at your local NRCS Service Center for information specific to your area.
 
The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide EQIP practice payments totaling up to 90 percent of the costs associated with planning and implementing conservation measures for historically underserved program participants. Historically underserved refers to groups that have not participated in or that in the past have received limited benefits through USDA programs. For more information about historically underserved clients visit:  http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/Hist_Underserved09.html

How can farmers improve their chances of qualifying for funds?

Eligible farmers applying funds are encouraged to institute as many of the 6 core conservation practices as possible, enabling them to both receive more dollars under this program as well as increasing their ranking in NRCS decision making of who receives these dollars, since this is a competitive program.  Most organic farmers and transitioning to organic farmers should be able to obtain funds for at least two of these six core practices, and perhaps a few other facilitating practices offered in their state. Keep in mind that program ranking and funding are based on the practices that applicants propose in their EQIP application. Funding is not retroactive and is not provided for practices the operator has already adopted.