NRCS Oregon Announces Funding Available for Organic Transition Initiative

PORTLAND, Ore., May 11, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon announces funding available for the Organic Transition Initiative. Apply by June 15 to be considered in the current round of funding.

The Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) helps farmers during the organic transition period. Before crops can be certified organic, farmers must carefully manage their land without using prohibited inputs like synthetic pesticides for 36 months. During this transition period and during the first years after certification, farmers often face many technical and market challenges.

Eligible producers include farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and other producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to organic certification.  OTI also includes farmer-to-farmer mentoring, direct support for crop insurance, and market development projects. 

In April 2023, USDA NRCS announced a $75 million national investment in conservation assistance for producers transitioning to organic production in April 2023. The investment, which includes funds from the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), will help build new and better markets and income streams, strengthen local and regional food systems and increase affordable food supply for more Americans, while promoting climate-smart agriculture and ensuring equity for all producers. 

Learn more about the Organic Transition Initiative online here. Contact your local USDA Service Center to apply for the program.

More Information  

For more information, visit farmers.gov/organic. 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.