Federal money for PA organic farmers

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Here’s something interesting to note - last Friday the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of $1 million to help farmers and processors pay for the cost of their organic certification costs.  15 states will share the $1 million proportionate to the number of organic producers in the state.  One of those states is Pennsylvania!

The states that will share the money do not traditionally receive as much crop assistance as the larger Midwestern states do in the federal farm bill. Leahy initiated the program to help deliver federal agriculture money to the farmers in the states in New England and the mid-Atlantic.

The money is specifically aimed at small farmers and will reimburse each eligible farmer 75% of certification costs up to $500. 

No doubt this will benefit all of us who enjoy eating locally grown, certified organic produce.