News Feature                                                            7/24/2009

EQIP Organic Initiative is a Success

Thanks to a number of successful partnership activities between NRCS, MDA and the University of Minnesota, the first year of the EQIP Organic Initiative was a huge success in Minnesota. We had 94 applications for approximately $2.1 million. This exceeded our initial allocation and our goals for this first year.

One of the partnership activities conducted was two one-day training sessions for NRCS and partner employees and technical service providers on organic farming systems. This training included basic information about certification, organic system plans, and typical management activities and principles used in organic farming systems.

The training included presentations from Jim Riddle, Organic Outreach coordinator from the University of Minnesota and a panel of organic farmers as well as a visit to an organic farm. Participants learned about crop rotations, weed control, pest management and record keeping which are all important aspects of managing an organic farming system, and gained a better understanding of how the EQIP Initiative could be used to assist organic producers. This initiative is expected to continue to be a part of the EQIP.

To find out more information about EQIP in Minnesota, contact your local NRCS field office or please visit the MN NRCS website:  www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov

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