WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced 23 new grants totaling $19 million to research and extension programs working to help organic producers and processors grow and market high-quality organic agricultural products.
The grants are funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program (ORG).
The grants include more than $15 million in 2011 grants through the OREI, and $4 million through the ORG. In FY 2011, ORG focused on environmental services provided by organic farming systems that support soil conservation and contribute to climate change mitigation. Practices and systems to be addressed include those associated with organic crops, organic animal production (including dairy) and organic systems integrating plant and animal production.
“As more and more farmers adopt organic agriculture practices, they need the best science available to operate profitable and successful organic farms," USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan
said. “America's brand of organic agricultural goods is world-renowned for its high-quality and abundance of selection. These research and extension projects will give producers the tools and resources to produce quality organic food and boost farm income, boosting the 'Grown in America' brand."
FY11 projects were awarded in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and West Virginia. Click here for a full list of awardees.
