09/18/06 Integrated organic program

The US Department of Agriculture has just awarded eight grants to entities in 13 states to promote organic agriculture. USDA's Tom Bewick. BEWICK "The integrated organic program is actually a combination of two congressional authorizations that allow CSRES to make grants for organic agriculture." The two specific areas where grants should be most useful are in helping producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards for growing and marketing, plus trying to help organic crops more competitive. BEWICK "The integrated organic program has a number of objectives. One of them is trying to find out how American organic producers can crack into those international markets." USDA passed out more than four and a half million dollars in grants this go-around. Bewick says applications for the next round of organic grants will be available sometime after October first. BEWICK "The integrated organic program really has a wide eligibility. In the last go around we did fund just universities but state agencies, other agencies within the federal government, non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations would all be eligible for funding from this program." Tomorrow, we'll tell you about some organic trials in Idaho, a chance for growers to look at new markets during an upcoming field day. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott