Organic farmers support applications due

AMES ? Practical Farmers of Iowa encourages Iowa farmers who are interested in transitioning their farms to organic production or adding additional conservation practices to an existing certified-organic operation to sign up for a second round of Environmental Quality Incentives Program Organic Initiative.

Farmers must apply at their local USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service office by March 30 for the EQIP Organic Initiative.

Eligible conservation practices include planting cover crops, establishing new crop rotations, constructing seasonal high tunnels or implementing nutrient management systems consistent with organic certification standards.

Under EQIP Organic Initiative contracts, NRCS provides financial payments and technical assistance to help producers implement conservation measures in keeping with organic production.

Beginning, limited-resource and socially disadvantaged producers may obtain additional assistance.

The 2008 Farm Bill limits EQIP payments for organic operations to $20,000 per year per person or legal entity, with a maximum total of $80,000 over six years.