The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to invest up to $300 million in a new initiative for organic farming.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled the specifics of the USDA's $300 million investment in a new Organic Transition Initiative that will aid in building better markets and income streams for farmers and producers, a recent press release from the Agriculture Department said. The investment will be funded with American Rescue Plan dollars.
Data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service showed that the number of noncertified organic farms actively switching to organic production has declined by approximately 71% since 2008, the release said. The USDA wants to change this trend with the comprehensive assistance offered by the initiative, creating possibilities for new and beginning farmers and increasing direct consumer access to organic foods through more production.
“Farmers face challenging technical, cultural, and market shifts while transitioning to organic production, and even during the first years after successful organic certification," Vilsack said in the release.
The initiative will give farmers comprehensive technical backing, such as farmer-to-farmer mentoring, along with immediate help in the form of financial assistance for conservation efforts and additional crop insurance aid; the release said. It will also back market development programs in targeted markets.
