4-15 IAN Organic Grants

 Is the government in the organic foods business?

I received A press release from the Natural Resources Conservation Service saying their  “Organic Initiative” provides financial assistance to certified organic producers as well as producers transitioning to organic production for resource conservation on their farms. To be considered for funding in fiscal year 2013, producers must apply by the April 19 deadline. Ron Brooks is the Resource Conservationist Program contact so I called him up to learn more. “What NRCS is doing is just trying to provide all of  agriculture a way to help them address resource concerns that are occurring in conventional agriculture or organic agriculture across the board. What that means is, if you are in agriculture, we want to help you. For years our EQIP program was geared to conventional farmers. Under the 2008 farm bill, it has been expanded to help other producers.”