The USDA has set aside $300 million to spend on new organic resources. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, says the money will be split evenly between tech assistance for producers, conservation and expanding crop insurance.
Vilsack says one of the first steps the department took was to establish a reduced cost for certification.
“We know that there are expenses associated with pre-certification inspection, and planning costs, often time folks have to be educated about organic production methods that obviously involve going to seminars and conferences. We know there is soil testing involved. All of that incurs an expense for the producer that’s not yet able to actually benefit from a higher value proposition. So, we created this certification program. To date almost 7,400 producers have utilized the assistance we have provided,” said Vilsack.
Producers have until the end of October to apply for additional support during this transition.
Related:
A look at how organic farming has increased in the Lone Star State
New USDA Funding: Improving rural health care and nutrition
Consumer demand up for organic foods
