October 14, 2022, is the deadline for applications to partner with the USDA Farm Service Agency on the Conservation Reserve Program Transition Incentives Program (CRP TIP).
TIP provides financial incentives to CRP participants with expiring contracts, if they sell or rent the land to a beginning producer, veteran farmer or rancher, or a producer from a socially disadvantaged group.
FSA is making available up to $4.5 million in funding and expects to make awards to 15 to 20 partner and stakeholder organizations to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to promote awareness and understanding of CRP TIP among agricultural communities, in particular those who are military veterans, new to farming, or historically underserved.
Eligible stakeholders include Federally-recognized Indian tribal organizations, State governments, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions. Interested stakeholders may submit one-to-two-year proposals, and must submit their applications via Grants.gov by October 14, 2022.
For more information or to apply, read the USDA press release, or contact Melanie Krizmanich by email or phone (202-572-5805).
October 25 is the final day to apply for grant funding from the USDA NIFA Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR/SBTT).
The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enable the application of research advancements from conception into the market. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions.
Projects dealing with agriculturally-related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies are encouraged across all SBIR/STTR topic areas.
For more information or to apply, visit the program webpage, or contact Melinda Coffman by email or phone (816-854-0299).
National Latino Farmers and Ranchers (NLFR) is hosting its 3rd Annual National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Congreso in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The theme for this year’s conference is “This is Our Land: Our Land Stewardship Legacy.”
The event brings agricultural stakeholders together to share agricultural best practices, Farm Bill resolutions, and climate-smart policy updates to support underserved producers in achieving more sustainable food and agricultural systems.
This congreso will address the challenges of establishing a stable labor force, disaster assistance and support, farmer and rancher debt relief, combating wildfires, conservation, the organic transition process, environmental justice, and steps to resolve the consequences created by the climatic crisis.
For more information or to register, visit the conference website, or contact Rudy Arredondo by email or phone (202-628-8833).
October 31, 2022, is the last day to sign up for the USDA’s new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) as part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, certified organic and transitional operations faced challenges due to loss of markets, and increased costs and labor shortages, in addition to costs related to obtaining or renewing their organic certification, which producers and handlers of conventionally grown commodities do not incur. Transitional operations also faced the financial challenge of implementing practices required to obtain organic certification without being able to obtain the premium prices normally received for certified organic commodities.
Eligible Expenses
OTECP funding is provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Certified operations and transitional operations may apply for OTECP for eligible expenses paid during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 fiscal years. For each year, OTECP covers 25% of a certified operation’s eligible certification expenses, up to $250 per certification category (crop, livestock, wild crop, handling and State Organic Program fee). This includes application fees, inspection fees, USDA organic certification costs, state organic program fees and more.
Crop and livestock operations transitioning to organic production may be eligible for 75% of a transitional operation’s eligible expenses, up to $750, for each year. This includes fees charged by a certifying agent or consultant for pre-certification inspections and development of an organic system plan.
For both certified operations and transitional operations, OTECP covers 75% of the registration fees, up to $200, per year, for educational events that include content related to organic production and handling in order to assist operations in increasing their knowledge of production and marketing practices that can improve their operations, increase resilience and expand available marketing opportunities. Additionally, both certified and transitional operations may be eligible for 75% of the expense of soil testing required under the National Organic Program (NOP) to document micronutrient deficiency, not to exceed $100 per year.
Applying for Assistance
Program Year 2022 covers expenses paid from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022. The application period for program year 2022 is May 16, 2022 to October 31, 2022. Producers apply through their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office and can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364. Visit farmers.gov/otecp to learn more.
Additional Organic Support
OTECP builds upon USDA’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) which provides cost share assistance of 50%, up to a maximum of $500 per scope, to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the NOP. This year’s application period for OCCSP ended Nov. 1, 2021.
Additionally, USDA’s Risk Management Agency announced improvements to the Whole-Farm Revenue Program including increasing expansion limits for organic producers to the higher of $500,000 or 35%. Previously, small and medium size organic operations were held to the same 35% limit to expansion as conventional practice producers. Also, producers can now report acreage as certified organic, or as acreage in transition to organic, when the producer has requested an organic certification by the acreage reporting date.
To learn more about USDA’s assistance for organic producers, visit usda.gov/organic.
For more information or to apply, visit the program webpage, or contact Kimberly Graham by email or phone (202-720-7641).
October 31, 2022, is the last day to sign up for the USDA’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP).
OCCSP provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 50 percent of their certification costs paid during the program year, not to exceed $500 per certification scope.
To learn more about USDA’s assistance for organic producers, visit usda.gov/organic.
For more information or to apply, visit the program webpage, or contact Kay Niner by email or phone (202-205-9354).
‘Growing Together’ – The Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference is back for its first in-person conference at the national level since 2019.
Join in the 8th Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference from November 13 to 15 at the Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at the Reed Conference Center in Oklahoma City.
The Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference is the largest national gathering of the agriculture and military communities and features three days of education, distinguished speakers, guest panels, networking events, farm tours, camaraderie and much more.
For more information or to register, visit the conference webpage, or contact the Farmer Veteran Coalition by email or phone (530-756-1395).
Register by December 8
Free virtual training workshops will be offered this fall for both new and experienced users of OK-FIRE, the statewide weather-based decision support system of the Oklahoma Mesonet for wildland fire management with applications to wildfire, prescribed fire, and smoke. Dr. J. D. Carlson, OK-FIRE program manager and fire meteorologist in OSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, will conduct the training. Workshops will be held in a virtual format over Zoom from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., spanning two consecutive afternoons.
Registration is required and can be done here. For those interested in the virtual workshops, please note that information on the specific content of Part 1 and Part 2 can be found on the online registration form. Part 1 will be useful to all wildland fire managers (those who work with wildfires or conduct prescribed burns), while Part 2 will be of most help to those who work with wildfires. If you can only make one of the two consecutive days, feel free to sign up for the other half of the workshop in another month. It would also be better, if possible, to attend a Part 1 workshop first and a Part 2 workshop in a later month. In addition, you have the option to only sign up for either Part 1 or Part 2. Note that the registration deadline for each workshop, virtual or in-person, is the Friday before the workshop date.
Workshops will consist of a combination of presentations, website demos, and question/answer periods. Participants will learn about the available fire weather, fire danger, and smoke products on OK-FIRE, as well as their application to wildfire, prescribed fire, and smoke management. In addition to past/current conditions based on Oklahoma Mesonet data, OK-FIRE also includes a 3-day forecast component, useful for anticipating periods of high fire danger as well as identifying windows for prescribed burning. If possible, attendees are encouraged to use either tablets or computers, as the larger screens will make for easier viewing and learning. Please note that these workshops are designed for those who work directly (or indirectly) with wildland fire (wildfire and/or prescribed fire). Finally, for those who attended any OK-FIRE virtual workshops last fall, please note that the workshops this fall will be similar to those of last year.
For more information or to register, visit the OK-FIRE training webpage, or contact Dr. J. D. Carlson by email or phone (405-744-6353).
December 15 is the signup deadline for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s new Neighbors Helping Neighbors program. The program allows either poultry growers or their immediate neighbors to sign up for one of several conservation practices to be installed on their farm.
The project will focus on the poultry growing areas of eastern Oklahoma and will primarily work directly between poultry growers and their immediate neighbors. On a larger scale, it will protect natural resources in eastern Oklahoma while also supporting the important regional poultry industry. Landowners that either own a poultry farm or land adjacent to one in the following counties could be eligible: Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Haskell, Le Flore, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Ottawa or Sequoyah.
Some of the natural resource concerns that can be addressed through the program are odor and dust, water quality and light pollution.
For more information or to sign up, visit the program webpage, or contact Jeri Fleming by email or phone (405-334-6343).
The Neighbors Helping Neighbors project is funded in part from USDA NRCS with additional funding from the U.S. EPA Section 319 program and an appropriation from the Oklahoma legislature. Other partners include the Grand River Dam Authority, OSU Extension Services, the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, and the Poultry Federation.
Register by December 8
Free virtual training workshops will be offered this fall for both new and experienced users of OK-FIRE, the statewide weather-based decision support system of the Oklahoma Mesonet for wildland fire management with applications to wildfire, prescribed fire, and smoke. Dr. J. D. Carlson, OK-FIRE program manager and fire meteorologist in OSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, will conduct the training. Workshops will be held in a virtual format over Zoom from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., spanning two consecutive afternoons.
Registration is required and can be done here. For those interested in the virtual workshops, please note that information on the specific content of Part 1 and Part 2 can be found on the online registration form. Part 1 will be useful to all wildland fire managers (those who work with wildfires or conduct prescribed burns), while Part 2 will be of most help to those who work with wildfires. If you can only make one of the two consecutive days, feel free to sign up for the other half of the workshop in another month. It would also be better, if possible, to attend a Part 1 workshop first and a Part 2 workshop in a later month. In addition, you have the option to only sign up for either Part 1 or Part 2. Note that the registration deadline for each workshop, virtual or in-person, is the Friday before the workshop date.
Workshops will consist of a combination of presentations, website demos, and question/answer periods. Participants will learn about the available fire weather, fire danger, and smoke products on OK-FIRE, as well as their application to wildfire, prescribed fire, and smoke management. In addition to past/current conditions based on Oklahoma Mesonet data, OK-FIRE also includes a 3-day forecast component, useful for anticipating periods of high fire danger as well as identifying windows for prescribed burning. If possible, attendees are encouraged to use either tablets or computers, as the larger screens will make for easier viewing and learning. Please note that these workshops are designed for those who work directly (or indirectly) with wildland fire (wildfire and/or prescribed fire). Finally, for those who attended any OK-FIRE virtual workshops last fall, please note that the workshops this fall will be similar to those of last year.
For more information or to register, visit the OK-FIRE training webpage, or contact Dr. J. D. Carlson by email or phone (405-744-6353).
The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is the largest educational conference and trade show in the southeastern United States that unites growers, vendors and suppliers.
For more information or to register, visit the conference website, or contact Katie Oxford by email or phone (706-407-2264).
