The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation announced the award of $6.1 million in grants to four organizations through a new competitive grant program, the Organic Transition Pilot Program. The program is designed as a block grant, administered through awards to organizations that demonstrate the expertise and collaboration needed to disburse financial and technical assistance and provide business planning to producers. Financial assistance disbursed to farmers and ranchers will be spent on a wide range of eligible expenses for making the transition to organic farming, including field preparation awards to help build soils for successful organic production. Awarded organizations will direct at least 50% of financial and technical assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers.
Source: attra.ncat.org