Printable flier for partners to raise awareness of supports through NRCS-EQIP in English
West/Southwest
PDF
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18CHTZbsJSYOGoUlqz5E56hvZAgs9Khtf/view?usp=sharing
12885, 12885, TOPP West OTI, TOPP-West-OTI.pdf, 1020894, https://cms.organictransition.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TOPP-West-OTI.pdf, https://cms.organictransition.org/resource/nrcs-eqip-flier/topp-west-oti/, , 22, , , topp-west-oti, inherit, 12884, 2024-05-01 22:44:35, 2024-05-01 22:44:35, 0, application/pdf, application, pdf, https://cms.organictransition.org/wp-includes/images/media/document.png
How to talk to your NRCS office about the
Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) resources available for you
Who should I speak with?
Contact your local NRCS office, or contact your state office for additional assistance.
You can also visit this TOPP West Resources page and find NRCS contacts for each of the
western states under OTI Resources.
Information to gather before your conversation:
•
Up-to-date records on Farmers.gov
•
Previous three years of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
•
How you have access and control over the land
•
Proof of organic certification, or organic transition records
•
Previous improvements and projects made to the property
Questions to ask:
Eligibility:
1) I own/rent my land. What documents
will you need for completion of my EQIP
application by the deadline?
2) I am eligible for the increased and
advanced payment option for Historically
Underserved farmers. How will this change
my application process?
3) My farm is certified/transitioning to
organic. What additional information will you
need for completing my conservation plan
and application by the deadline?
Assistance Available:
1) What financial and technical assistance is
available to my farm through CPS-823?
2) Are there any state initiatives that I qualify
for as an organic or transitioning-to-organic
producer?
3) Can I get financial assistance for
conservation work I have already started or
completed?
4) Can NRCS help me develop and
implement a comprehensive conservation
plan that is tailored to my organic operation?
4) Does eligibility for assistance under CPS823 differ from traditional eligibility?
Viewing a printed version of this document?
A PDF version with hyperlinks, along with other resources on other programs that support organic
production, is available here:
Questions to ask (cont’d):
Application Process/Logistics:
After an award:
1) I’m interested in EQIP programs to address
conservation issues/projects of interest for
my farm. What do you need from me to get
started on my application?
1) Are there things that I will need to do after
I get the financial assistance to monitor or
evaluate the project?
2) How soon can a conservationist visit my
farm to set up a conservation plan (AD
1026)? Is that the same as a Comprehensive
Conservation Plan?
3) When is the deadline for the next EQIP
ranking period?
4) What are the state and national resource
concerns that are the highest priority? Will my
project address them?
2) What are the reporting requirements and
when do they need to be submitted?
3) How will NRCS communicate updates,
changes or new opportunities related to my
project or future projects?
4) Can NRCS provide guidance on
maintaining records that satisfy both
organic certification and NRCS program
requirements?
What if the Field Agent is unaware of CPS-823 or the conservation benefits of
organic agriculture?
NRCS employees may not be familiar with the specifics of organic certification and
management; patience and persistence will be crucial to getting access to the assistance you
need and deserve.
See these NRCS-sponsored webinars and training modules for additional resources that you
can share with your NRCS service providers to help educate them about organic transition
support.
Contact the state office if you continue to experience a lack of understanding or support.
Viewing a printed version of this document?
A PDF version with hyperlinks, along with other resources on other programs that support organic production, is
available here: