Transitioning to organic production? Here's how the USDA can help

The USDA has announced details around its $75 million investment in conservation assistance for producers transitioning to organic production.

As part of the multiagency Organic Transition Initiative, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will dedicate financial and technical assistance to a new organic management standard and partner with new organic technical experts to increase staff capacity and expertise, according to a news release.

 "Producers transitioning to organic can count on NRCS for assistance through the process,” NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said in the release. “By strengthening our technical proficiency and providing technical and financial assistance through new tools and practices, we can better support producers through the challenges of organic transition.”

The release said NRCS will dedicate $70 million to assist producers with a new organic management standard under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

NRCS will help producers adopt the new organic management standard, which allows flexibility for producers to get the assistance and education they need such as attending workshops or requesting help from experts or mentors, the release said. The program supports conservation practices required for organic certification and may provide foregone income reimbursement for dips in production during the transition period.

Higher payment rates and other options are available for underserved producers, including socially disadvantaged, beginning, veteran and limited-resource farmers and ranchers, according to the release. Eligible producers include farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and other producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to organic certification, the release said.

NRCS will release state-specific deadlines later this year, after which producers can apply through NRCS at their local USDA Service Center.  

In addition, the NRCS will dedicate $5 million to partner with six organic technical experts through five-year agreements. The organic experts will develop regional networks and support NRCS staff who provide services to USDA customers, according to the release.