USDA Announces Additional Market Development Grants & NRCS Contracts with Oregon Tilth and OFRF
USDA has announced new grant awards and an additional $10 million in Organic Market Development Funding. A total of more than $75 million has now been awarded to 93 groups from across the U.S.
Simultaneously, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced a five-year partnership with Oregon Tilth and Organic Farming Research Foundation to strengthen organic expertise for conservation program assistance and expand relationships among producers wanting to transition to organic. OFRF will disseminate the latest organic research and national training to NRCS staff. Oregon Tilth will establish six organic specialists who will support producers through regional networks and hands-on organic training, and support NRCS staff who assist farmers transitioning to organic. The organic specialist positions will be filled by staff from Oregon Tilth working with organic partners including Marbleseed, California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation, and Organic Agronomy Training Service. NRCS assistance for organic producers now includes a new organic management standard, which was introduced last year, to allow producers flexibility to get assistance and education, such as attending workshops or requesting help from experts or mentors.