Keeping Conservation Relevant

Administered by the NRCS, the recently updated Conservation Stewardship Program provides landowners an educational and financial resource for implementing and strengthening conservation efforts. Congress has set aside $12 billion over the next 10 years to enroll nearly 13 million acres a year in CSP. I found the best overview at the Center for Rural Affairs, and full details are at NRCS.

And We Have Lift Off!

 

Seamus emerges from a dunking by son Jake

Our EQIP application was approved – all systems are go for organic. The funding we’ll receive is lower than anticipated, but what ever we receive will be put to good use. Since it’s a new program with a purpose to support farmers like us to become familiar with the organic process, there may be an opportunity for our application to be amended down the line. Meanwhile, we’re scheduled to receive about $12,000 over the next three years. These funds will help cover organic certification fees, seed, fencing and so on. ….No funds are allowed for barn raising, however.

With Peter visiting from California, we took a break from a pool-side party at Sean and Diane’s for a little farm talk. It was good timing as we’re ready to start the next phase. Molly gave a thorough report on meetings with the NRCS and Maury Wills at IDALS. Good discussions ensued and we will start hammering out details for planting alfalfa and oats the first year. Molly is researching the options and costs of barn kits. And, yes, goats! Mom made a contact while viewing the goat judging at the Warren Co. Fair. Molly laid out list of things to consider, including shelter, mending the fence and the demand for goat meat.

I made an early departure so I wouldn’t be riding in the dark. With minimal signs on the bike trails that was a tall order, and confirmed my request for better maps.

PS – The pumpkins in the garden are already HUGE!

We Flip for EQIP

The USDA announced its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which means $50 million for a new initiative to meet the Obama Administration’s promise to encourage more organic agriculture production! And, since it includes farmers in the process of converting to organic, I am sure many other farms like us are flipping, skipping and tripping to meet their quick deadline.

Thanks to Molly for following up on this lead. She learned that we need to move swiftly on our plan to register as an LLC and acquire a Federal Tax ID number so we can stay in the running for EQIP. I’m moving through this process today and will keep you posted on the outcome. Please note that this doesn’t derail our Monday’s mission to name the farm! We’ll just file the required paper work for a d.b.a. (“doing business as”) name.

- F. Siobhan