Montana Organic Production EQIP Special Initiative

Overview

Organic food sales remain the fastest growing sector in the food industry, swelling by 18 percent in 2007. Organic food sales more than tripled, to $1.7 billion in 2007 from $393 million in 2002, according to USDA’s Agriculture Census.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) provided funding specifically to help organic farmers and those agricultural producers transitioning to organic farming. In Montana, more than $1 million is available through a special allotment for organic farmers through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Financial Assistance

Successful applicants can receive funding to implement six priority conservation practices designed to improve natural resource conditions. Not only do these practices offer significant environmental benefits, but they are also important to organic growers. The six practices are:

If you encounter any problems with the files provided on this page, please contact Webmaster at 406-587-6945.

The following documents are available in Adobe Reader format:
 
1. Conservation Crop Rotation (PDF; 116 KB)
2. Cover Crop (PDF; 37 KB)
3. Nutrient Management (PFD; 56 KB)
4. Pest Management (PDF; 23 KB)
5. Prescribed Grazing (PDF; 93 KB)
6. Forage Harvest Management (PDF; 49 KB)

Additional practices are also available to assist organic producers in meeting the objectives of their Organic System Plan (OSP). The OSP is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Farmers who want to apply for financial assistance may receive up to $20,000 per year and are limited to $80,000 over a six-year period.

Organic 2009 EQIP Payment Schedule

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be an agricultural operation that produced at least $1,000 in agricultural products in two of the last five years or has IRS Schedule F form showing profit or loss from a farm operation OR have ownership in the agricultural operation.
• Must own or have control of the land (by lease or rental agreement) for the length of the EQIP contract.
• May be an individual, entity, or joint operation.
• Must be certified as organic according to the National Organic Program OR be in the process of transitioning to organic production.
• Must be in compliance with the highly-erodible land (HEL) and wetland conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985.
• Must have adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $1 million in non-farm income.

Conservation Planning Assistance

For more than 70 years, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has placed a high priority on helping agricultural producers with conservation plans to meet their environmental and economic goals, while at the same time planning for the protection of the soil, water, air and wildlife resources.

Conservation goals are highly individual and may include transitioning to organic agriculture (or boosting pollinator populations, increasing biodiversity including soil-borne organisms, enhancing water quality, controlling invasive species or dozens of other resource-enhancing possibilities).

NRCS conservationists will come to your farm and work with you to develop a conservation plan based on your farm goals. The plan will specify a timeline to implement the conservation practices. Conservation planning assistance is free and does not require participation in financial programs. Producers may be eligible for other conservation programs.

Confidentiality

All information provided to NRCS for conservation planning purposes is strictly confidential.

How Do I Get Started?

The first step is to visit your local USDA Service Center and speak with the NRCS District Conservationist and complete an application.

Your application must be submitted by June 12, 2009 to be eligible for Fiscal Year 2009 funding. You can use the USDA Service Center Locator to find your local NRCS field office or look in your local phone book under federal government.

Note that applications can be taken any time for this and any other NRCS program; however, only applications received by May 29 will be eligible for this years’ funding for organic producers.

What Do I Bring with Me?

If you are already certified:

1. Proof of ownership or control of land.
2. Your Organic System Plan. The OSP is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

If you are transitioning:

1. Proof of ownership or control of land.
2. You will be required to submit a self-certification letter to the District Conservationist stating that you “agree to develop and implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an Organic System Plan.”

The following document is available in Adobe Reader format:

Producer Self-Certification Eligibility for EQIP Organic During Transition Period (PDF; 35 KB)

You will be asked to complete the following documentation:

What If I Sell Under $5,000 per Year and Wish to Acquire Organic Certification?

If producers who sell less than $5,000 a year wish to use EQIP to implement practices related to organic production, they may do so; however, they are required to implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an Organic System Plan (OSP). Payments are not authorized for activities or practice components which are solely production related and are not linked to an identified resource concern. Payments may not be used for any costs related to organic certification.

For More Information

On this Web site:

• Montana Organic Production Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Special Initiative Fact Sheet

On other Web sites:

• National NRCS Organic Initiative Web Page
• National NRCS EQIP Web page
• USDA Agricultural Marketing Service - National Organic Program
• State of Montana's Organic Program
• Montana Organic Association
• National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

The following documents are available in Adobe Reader format:

MontGuide MT200901AG "From Conventional to Organic Cropping: What to Expect During the Transition Years" (PDF; 295 KB)

National Organic Program (PDF; 67 KB)

Or contact one of the Montana NRCS personnel listed below:

Contacts

Kris Berg, Program Specialist
Phone: 406-587-6849
Email: Kris.Berg

Carrie Mosley, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs
Phone: 406-587-6967
Email: Carrie.Mosley

Last Modified: 10/14/2009