Pennsylvania Helping Producers Transition to Organic Farming
producers working to transition their conventional operations to certified
organic farms may be eligible for help offsetting the costs of making the
change, said Agriculture Secretary
The Path to Organic Program provides grants to farmers switching to
certified organic production practices. The application deadline is
“The Path to Organic grants are a significant investment in agriculture,
our state’s number one industry,” said Wolff. “When producers determine that
a change is necessary to promote their products to particular markets or to
implement particular management practices, the process can sometimes be long
and the required investments can be daunting. Through programs like the Path
to Organic, we can help producers make the transition and remain profitable
into the future.”
The program also evaluates organic production practices as tools in
improving soil health, protecting water quality, and gathering atmospheric
carbon on a pilot basis outside of the traditional research environment.
“Maintaining good soil health and high water quality is essential to keeping
agriculture viable in
organic and other production practices is an important step in understanding
how to achieve this goal,” said Wolff.
The Path to Organic program offers funding to eligible for-profit
enterprises that produce farm commodities, including agricultural,
horticultural, aquaculture, vegetable, fruit and floricultural products;
livestock and meats; poultry and eggs; dairy products; nuts; mushrooms; honey
products; and forest products.
Grant payments will not exceed
in a four-year period and will reimburse participants for costs directly
related to organic transition, including building, machinery and equipment,
and operational costs.
The Path to Organic grant program is part of the department’s Center for
Farm Transitions, which provides consultation and resources for producers
looking to enter farming or transition their operation to new markets or
future generations. For more information about services offered by the Center
for Farm Transitions, visit http://www.IPlanToFarm.com or call 1-877-475-2686.
For more information on the Path to Organic program, visit
http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on ‘Path to Organic Program’
under ‘What’s New,’ or call
CONTACT:
717-787-5085
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture