NY gets federal funds to encourage organic production

The state is getting about $845,000 to encourage organic agriculture production. The money comes from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services as part of its Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

State Agricultural Commissioner Patrick Hooker says sign-up for the program began this week and continues through the end of the month at county NRCS offices.

The 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative was included in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide financial assistance to certified organic producers and to producers in the process of transitioning to organic production.

Producers who sell less than $5,000 in agricultural products and are thus exempt from formal organic certification are also eligible for Organic Initiative payments.  

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