NRCS will provide technical and financial assistance to farmers to help them to implement a new organic management standard through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS will help farmers to adopt the new organic management standard, which allows flexibility for farmers to get the assistance and education they need such as attending workshops or requesting help from experts or mentors. It supports conservation practices required for organic certification and may provide foregone income reimbursement for dips in production.

Core Practice

• Organic Management (Practice Code 823)

Facilitating Practices & Activities

• Conservation cover (Practice code 327)
• Conservation crop rotation (Practice code 328)
• Cover crop (Practice code 340)
• Field border (Practice code 386)
• Nutrient management (Practice code 590)

Higher payment rates and other options are available for historically underserved producers. Eligible producers include farmers, woodland owners, and other producers beginning or running organic agriculture operations. 

NRCS will also increase organic expertise throughout the organization by creating positions for organic experts at each of its regional technology support centers. These positions will provide training to NRCS field staff who provide direct services to USDA customers. This is in addition to the existing NRCS assistance for organic producers including conservation planning, conservation practice implementation and financial assistance for all offered conservation practices.

Ranking Criteria & Questions

The FY 2026 ranking questions and criteria for organic agriculture in Rhode Island will be published on this site at the earliest date possible.

NRCS Rhode Island Ranking Criteria for FY 2026