• $50 Million Available Nationwide for Transitioning and Organic Farmers through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Applications for the National Organic Initiative will be accepted until May 29, 2009, so don’t delay. EQIP is offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This special National Organic Initiative is for organic farmers and those transitioning to organic who are seeking financial assistance and technical expertise to plan and install conservation measures. Funds for this program focus on six core practices: Conservation Crop Rotations, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Pest Management, Prescribed Grazing and Forage Harvest Management.  For details:
• Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service at www.mosesorganic.org/attachments/projects/eqipfunds.html.
• Contact your local Minnesota NRCS county office, which you can find by going to www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/directory/FO.html.

• $18 Million Available Nationwide to Farmers through the Value-Added Producer Grants Program (VAPG).  USDA’s Rural Development Agency is now accepting applications for the VAPG program, which is targeted to farmers who want to add value to the agriculture products they produce on their farms. The program supports farmers or groups of farmers adding value to agricultural products prior to going to market. The deadline to submit applications is July 6 for most funding, and June 22 for applications that target mid-tier value chains and which serve beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as socially disadvantaged farmers. For details:
• USDA Rural Development at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm.
• Minnesota’s Rural Development Director for the Business and Cooperative Program, David Gaffaney, at 651-602-7814.
• See LSP’s press release on the USDA’s VAPG announcement: www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/09/newsr_090508.htm.  

top