2-9-10 rev. EQIP Organic Initiative Program in Kansas Established nationwide in the 2008 Farm Bill, USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Organic Initiative under the existing Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to farmers transitioning to organic production and certification. It also provides assistance to existing organic farmers who need to adopt conservation measures to make environmental improvements to already certified organic farms. Transitioning farmers must develop an Organic System Plan (OSP). The OSP is the management plan for organic production that meets certification requirements that were established with the National Organic Program. EQIP payments are for implementation of conservation practices that help growers meet their OSP and organic certification, or help existing organic growers address identified natural resource concerns. Both transitioning or existing certified organic farmers can apply for the EQIP Organic Initiative. Program assistance is limited to $20,000 per year and $80,000 over a six-year period. The Kansas State Conservationist and NRCS staff have developed a list of conservation practices offered through the initiative. Kansas’ list is fairly inclusive of possible practices, including conservation crop rotations, cover crops, nutrient management, pest management, prescribed grazing, forage harvest management, plus many more. One new practice included in the 2010 program in Kansas is the Seasonal High Tunnel System for Crops or hoop houses. (See www.hightunnels.org for more information on high tunnels.) Funds are limited to $4,000 per agricultural operation. Eligibility: * Farmers who produce an annual minimum of $1000 of agricultural products. (There are no minimum acreage requirements to apply for EQIP). * Farmers just beginning or in the process of transitioning to organic production; * Existing certified organic farmers who want to transition additional acres or animals; * Existing certified organic farmers who need to adopt additional conservation measures; * Producers who sell less than $5,000 in agricultural products and are thus exempt from formal certification are still eligible for Organic Initiative payments: * Farmers whose 2009 applications to the Organic Initiative were deferred will receive a letter from NRCS outlining their options in 2010. Application Deadline: Applications can be submitted at anytime throughout the year, but those submitted before March 12, 2010, will be evaluated in the 2010 competitive ranking process. To Apply: To apply for the EQIP Organic Initiative, farmers and ranchers must contact their local NRCS office and submit the general EQIP application and a screening criteria worksheet for either “Transition to Organic” or for a “Certified Organic Operation”. Producers who have not participated in federal farm programs (such as some market garden operations) will need to sign up with their local Farm Services Administration Office to determine eligibility for federal farm programs. Forms for the EQIP Organic Initiative plus the FSA eligibility are available at the local NRCS office or FSA office, or online. The important thing is to contact the local county NRCS office and sign up! Details of the application can be developed later. Farmers already certified organic who are applying must submit a copy of their current organic system plan (OSP) and maintain certification through the length of the EQIP contract. Transitioning organic farmers must certify that they are in the process of obtaining organic certification, and submit a self-certification letter stating that they agree to develop and implement conservation practices for certified organic production consistent with an organic system plan, and that they are working with an organic certifying agency. According to the national NRCS guidance, applications will be treated as two separate ranking pools, one for transitioning farmers and ranchers without any current certified organic production and another for certified organic farmers who need additional conservation practices. Funding is not guaranteed, as EQIP is a competitive program. But the separate EQIP Organic Initiative allows applicants to be ranked against other organic or transitioning to organic farmers, and not against the much larger pool of all EQIP applicants. Resources of Concern The purpose of USDA NRCS programs is to address conservation, environmental and resource concerns or problems. The EQIP Organic Initiative, like all EQIP provisions, must address a significant resource of concern on your farm. In Kansas these include: water quality, water quantity, soil quality or condition, plant condition, pest management, air quality, pollinator habitat, and fish and wildlife. How to Apply: 1) Contact your local USDA NRCS office to fill out the EQIP application forms and the screening applications for the Organic Initiative to begin the process. 2) Producers who have not participated in federal farm programs (such as many market garden operations) will need to sign up with their local Farm Services Administration Office (often housed in or near the NRCS offices) to determine eligibility for federal farm programs. These include the Conservation Program Application (CCC-1200), an Adjusted Gross Income Certification form (CCC926); and a Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Certification (AD-1026). 3) Screening Criteria Worksheet for the EQIP Organic Initiative. There are separate worksheets for Transitioning Farmers and for those already certified organic.add link to the two pdf’s of screening criteria.) 4) Transitioning farmers must submit a self-certification letter stating that you agree to develop and implement an organic system plan; and existing organic farmers must provide a copy of their OSP. (add link to the pdf of template for self- certification letter) RESOURCES For the EQIP Organic Initiative: PDF’s available on KRC website: add links to the pdf’s for the three articles below “What are the Basic Requirements for Organic Certification”, by Jim Riddle, University of MN, and Miles Envoy, WA Department of Agriculture, Dec., 20, 2006. “Organic System Plan Overview”, by Brian Baker Organic Materials Institute, (3 pages) ATTRA Certification Process, NCAT 2005. Links to other resources Organic Certification Information and Production Practices USDA SARE “Transitioning to Organic Production”, January 2007 http://www.SARE.org/publications/organic/organic.pdf Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) www.attra.ncat.org/ Click on Organic Farming in the menu list of topics. ATTRA has an extensive catalog of publications and bulletins on organic farming practices information as well as “how to’s” of certification and transition. Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) www.mosesorganic.org/news.html. MOSES is an education-outreach organization working to promote sustainable and organic agriculture. MOSES serves farmers striving to produce high-quality, healthful food using organic and sustainable techniques. Board members are primarily from the upper Midwest. Their website has numerous publications, bulletins and guides for transitioning to organic, production and certification. MOSES is best known for organizing the largest organic farming conference in the country, the Organic Farming Conference. From its humble beginning with 90 attendees twenty years ago, our most recent conference in February attracted over 2,600 farmers, advocates, educators, and community members. Rodale Institute www.rodaleinstitute.org Rodale has an extensive publication and resource directory on all things organic, including organizatins and research. They conduct research projects in organic farming practices including No-Till in Organic. Rodale published the online farm magazine the The New Farm which features an electronic online organic transition course, and online Organic System Plan tool at http://www.rodaleinstituyte.org/new_farm National Organic Program www.ams.usda.gov/nop You can find the national organic standards here, as well as a listing of certifying agencies by state. Kansas is not home to any certifying agents or entities, but you can look to neighboring states. Kansas NRCS Fact Sheet: http://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/2009/fs_organic.html For forms and an overview of the program: Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) Http://www.attra.ncat.org/eqip Resources For Hoop House or Seasonal High Tunnel System Information University and Extension and NGO specialists www.hightunnels.org Dan Nagengast, Kansas Rural center 785-748-0959 nagengast@earthlink.net Contacts: Kansas Rural Center Mary Fund 785-873-3431, or ksrc@rainbowtel.net Kansas Organic Producers Marketing Association Ed Reznicek 785-939-2032 or amerugi@jbntelco.com Jackie Keller, Eastern Kansas Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) 785-633-4621 keller7@hotmail.com Kansas USDA NRCS Office contacts: Gaye Benfer, USDA Kansas Resource Conservationist, EQIP Program, Salina,Ks. 785-823-4569, or gaye.benfer@ks.usda.gov Your local County Conservation District office. Find your local office at the “Find a Service Center” link at http://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/ ********************************************************* USDA Organic Certification Cost-Share Program in Kansas Cost-share funds to help producers with the costs of certification, the USDA Organic Certification Cost-Share Program was authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill, but reauthorized in 2008 with expanded funding. The program makes direct financial assistance available to certifying organic farmers to reimburse part of the costs of organic certification through state departments of agriculture. The Kansas Department of Agriculture administers the program in Kansas. About 50 to 55 producers have been participating annually in Kansas. Kansas has $40,000 for the October 1,2009 through September 30, 2010 fiscal year. Any certified organic producer in the sate can apply for these funds. Producers can receive up to 75% of their annual certification costs up to a maximum payment of $750/year. The process is simple: * Submit an application which is available on the Kansas Department of Agriculture website at http://www.ksda.gov/kansas_agriculture/content/153 * Include with the application, a copy of your certification form or continued certification with effective date; and * a copy of your invoice of what you paid for certification. The KDA contact is Kansas Department of Agriculture Stacey Woollington at 785-296- 3230 or Stacey.woolington@kds.ks.gov. Resources For the USDA National Organic Cost-share for Certification Program Information in Kansas Kansas Department of Agriculture Stacey Woollington at 785-296-3230 or Stacey.woolington@kds.ks.gov Kansas Rural Center Mary Fund 785-873-3431, or ksrc@rainbowtel.net Kansas Organic Producers Ed Reznicek 785-939-2032 or amerugi@jbntelco.com Jackie Keller, Eastern Kansas OCIA 785-633-4621 keller7@hotmail.com