Organic Transition Initiative

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia NRCS is now accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2024 Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Applications received by March 1, 2024, will be considered for funding in FY 2024.

NRCS has dedicated $70 million nationwide to assist producers with the transition to USDA Certified organic production.

Higher payment rates and other options are available for historically underserved producers including socially disadvantaged, beginning, military veteran and limited-resource farmers and ranchers. Eligible producers include farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and other producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to organic certification.

Eligible practices will be limited to the following for OTI applicants:

• Code No. 823 -- Organic Management
• Code No. 138 -- Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition
• Code No. 140 -- Transition to Organic Design
• Code No. 327 -- Conservation Cover
• Code No. 336 – Soil Carbon Amendment
• Code No. 328 -- Conservation Crop Rotation
• Code No. 340 -- Cover Crop
• Code No. 386 -- Field Border
• Code No. 590 -- Nutrient Management

Applications are available at your local USDA Service Center or online at USDA's Get Started with NRCS web page and are accepted on a continuous basis; however, VA NRCS has established a cutoff or batching date for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. To be considered for current available funding for the OTI, applicants must submit their applications by the close of business on March 1, 2024 to their local service center. All applicants must already have farm records established with USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).

For more information, visit farmers.gov

Fact Sheet: Organic Transition Initiative

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