Maryland NRCS Announces Proposals Are Due February 25 for new Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

Maryland Media Liaison:

Carol Hollingsworth, 443-482-2902

Annapolis, MD, May 7, 2009 --- The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland announced that the application period for the new Organic Initiative under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) runs from May 11 through May 29, 2009. NRCS Maryland received $376,000 in financial assistance funds under the initiative.

Farmers interested in this program need to contact their local NRCS office right away to begin the application process. Although NRCS accepts program applications on a continuous basis, only applications received by May 29, 2009 will be considered for funding under this special EQIP Organic Initiative.

USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced this week that $50 million in EQIP conservation funds is available for a new initiative to meet the Obama Administration's promise to encourage more organic agriculture production. "Assisting organic producers is a priority of the 2008 Farm Bill as well as for Secretary Vilsack and the Obama Administration," said Merrigan. "The objective of this initiative is to make organic food producers eligible to compete for EQIP financial assistance."

The 2009 Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production. Organic producers may also apply for assistance under general EQIP.

There are six core practices eligible through this initiative. They are Conservation Crop Rotation; Cover Crop; Nutrient Management; Pest Management; Prescribed Grazing; and Forage Harvest Management. Additional conservation practices will also be eligible under the EQIP Organic Initiative.

Interested producers should visit their nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility. When farmers come into NRCS offices to apply, they should bring proof of farm ownership or control of the land and their farm’s Organic System Plan.

Additional information on the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative is available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/.

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