Maryland Gets Grants for Organic Farms

The organic farming industry in Maryland will get some help in the form of two grants allotted by the state from a federal agency.

A $38,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation innovation grant is targeted to increase management expertise among organic farmers, as well as maximize the conservation benefits of organic farming, the Maryland Agriculture Department said Tuesday in a news release. The $38,000 is matched in part by the Wallace Genetics Foundation.

A second grant from the USDA is designed to help organic producers pay for the cost of certifying their operations as organic.

As consumer demand continues to grow each year for organic meat and milk, the demand for organic grain and forage (hay and pasture) continues to increase, Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson said in the release. This is a great opportunity for Maryland farmers to create a sustainable supply of locally grown organic grains and forage for organic meat and milk producers.