FARMINGTON – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationist Paul Hersey reminds potential applicants to contact the Farmington USDA office soon to find out if they are eligible for the Organic Initiative or the On-Farm Energy Initiative. Applications for the second ranking period of 2012 are due on March 30, 2012. Both initiatives are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and offer technical and financial assistance.
Through the Organic Initiative NRCS helps certified organic growers and producers working to achieve organic certification install conservation practices for organic production. “Practices will help the selected applicants meet many requirements of their USDA Organic System Plans and stay in compliance with USDA’s National Organic Program,” said Hersey.
Through the On-Farm Energy Initiative, NRCS and producers develop Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) or farm energy audits that assess energy consumption on an operation. NRCS then uses audit data to develop energy conservation recommendations. Each AgEMP has a landscape component that assesses equipment and farming processes and a farm headquarters component that assesses power usage and efficiencies in livestock buildings, grain handling operations, and similar facilities to support the farm operation.
This is the second of three application deadlines for these two initiatives. If funding permits, the third and final deadline for 2012 will be June 1, 2012.
For more information go to www.me.nrcs.usda.gov or contact the Farmington USDA Service Center at 107 Park Street in Farmington or cal Paul at 778-4767 ext 105 or Jade at ext 108.
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