Last Updated June 18, 2007
Organic Transitions Program
Assisting farmers in successfully adopting organic practices and supporting systems research on organic farming combined with outreach and education programs to help farmers apply the results of that research
The Organic Transition Program is an integrated research, education, and extension grants program that helps farmers surmount challenges of organic production and marketing. As the organic industry continues to grow at 20 percent per year, extension and other information providers report more farmers seeking reliable information on making the transition to organic production.
A part of the USDA Integrated Research, Education and Extension Competitive Grants Program, the Organic Transitions Program aims to:
- Develop approaches, tactics and systems that will support certified organic production guidelines
- Develop and conduct outreach and education programs for organic producers
Project Examples
- Many organic and transitional organic farmers struggle with production limitations owing to various inadequate or inefficient management factors, including pest and organic fertility management. Ohio State University was awarded $493,343 to provide information that will help organic and transitional organic farmers with strategies to optimize management of organic matter, soil fertility, pests, and crop health.
- Pesticides used for lowbush blueberry cultivation may harm the environment next to and within lowbush blueberry fields. A grant of $175,128 was given to the University of Maine to develop and implement comprehensive season-long pest management programs to address key blueberry pest complexes. An organic pest management system for lowbush blueberries may reduce the risk of pesticides to the environment.
- Weed management in reduced pesticide and organic cropping systems is a priority for many growers nationally and is consistently listed near the top of organic and reduced-input growers’ pest management concerns. A $498,335 grant was awarded to the Pennsylvania State University, to study the reduction of the weed seedbank as a key component in successful transition to organic production. The effects of various weed suppression tactics will be measured on other pests, soil quality indicators, and economic indicators.
Application and Financial Information
Organic Transitions is run as a competitive grants program. Applications are reviewed by experts from universities and the private sector as well as by farmers. Applications are placed into funding categories ranging from “Excellent” to “Do Not Fund” and are then ranked within each group. CSREES starts with the best proposal and funds proposals until the funds are exhausted.
Organic Transitions projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork for this program area must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives.
Section 406 programs, under which the Organic Transitions Program is funded, differ from some other programs that CSREES operates in that proposals should be integrated across functions: that is, projects should contain research and/or education and/or extension. The ideal project is one that contains all three elements.
The maximum award is up to 4 years, with no funding limit set.
Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Only employees of degree-granting institutions are eligible to apply
for Organic Transitions Program funding as “project directors.”
However, others may receive funds from project directors as subcontractors to perform certain parts of the program.
Contact
Dr. Tom Bewick
Phone: (202) 401-3356.
E-mail: tbewick@csrees.usda.gov
Internet
www.csrees.usda.gov/organicagriculture.cfm
www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding.cfm
