WASHINGTON, May 5, 2009 (USDA) Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen
Merrigan announced $50 million for a new initiative to meet the Obama
Administration's promise to encourage more organic agriculture
production. Funding for the initiative will come from the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

"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.

Minimum core conservation practices required under the Initiative can
include Conservation Crop Rotation; Cover Crop; Nutrient Management;
Pest Management; Prescribed Grazing; and Forage Harvest Management.
Applications from organic producers or producers in transition to
organic farming will be accepted under this initiative between May 11
and May 29. Applications will be ranked at that time.

The 2009 Organic Initiative will be administered by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service. Interested producers should visit their
nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility. Additional
information on the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative is available at:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/ .