Putting New 2008 Farm Bill Programs to Work for Producers
1. Putting New Farm Bill Programs
to Work for Producers
Bridget Holcomb
Associate Policy Director
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
2. Outline
• Conservation Stewardship Program
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP) Organic Initiative
• Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education
• Value Added Producer Grants
• Other resources
3. Conservation Stewardship Program
“You’re saving your soil, you’re costs are cheaper, and you’re
going to make more money in the end. You’re a fool not to be in
this program.” Bob Bernier
4. Conservation Stewardship Program
• For farmers and private forest land owners
• Rewarded for existing conservation
practices and new practices
• 5 year contract with NRCS
• Payments
– cropland or pastureland: $10 to $40 per acre
– forest land: $2 to $24 per acre
– capped at $40,000 per year
• Long application!
5. Conservation Stewardship Program
Previous On-Farm Conservation
Practices:
• Same-day incorporation of
applied manure and compost
• Cover crops
• Shrub rows for beneficial
insect habitat
• Waste oil recycling
Conservation Improvements
through CSP:
• Pasture diversity
• Habitat for beneficial insects
and wildlife
“We try to continually take on little
conservation projects, and CSP gives us
that extra push to get us going.” Richard
de Wilde
6. Conservation Stewardship Program
Photo by Agri-View
“It’s about protecting the environment for the next
generation. My dad did that for me, and I want to do
that for my kids. Establishing good conservation is
the right thing to do.” Randy Schmidt
Previous On-Farm
Conservation Practices:
• Minimum-till and no-till
• Minimum residue
application
• Gypsum soil amendment
to reduce runoff
Conservation Improvements
through CSP:
• Crop tissue sampling for
nitrogen
• Variable rate technology
for planting and nutrient
management
8. EQIP Organic Initiative
• EQIP now has an organic provision
• Both existing organic farmers and those transitioning to
organic
• Cost share for organic conservation practices
– 75% cost share
– 90% for socially disadvantaged farmers and beginning farmers
• $20,000/yr cap, total cap of $80,000 over six years
• For more information:
– Pat Murphy, 608-662-4422 x 258 pat.murphy@wi.usda.gov
– Matt Otto 608-662-4422 x245 matt.otto@wi.usda.gov
20. Value Added Producer Grants
Sassy Cow Creamery: working capital for a small, start-up organic
and conventional milk processor and bottler project
21. Value Added Producer Grants
Deirdre Birmingham:
feasibility study
leading to the
development of the
business, operations,
and marketing plans
necessary to
successfully produce
and market hard
apple cider in the
Southern Wisconsin
region.
22. Value Added Producer Grants
Agrecol: working capital to
add value to native seeds by
processing them into branded
mixtures.
23. Value Added Producer Grants
• What is a value added product?
– Changed in physical state
– Organic crops
– Grass-fed livestock
– Locally produced and marketed foods
– Mid-tier value chains
• Up to $100,000 for business plans and
feasibility studies
• Up to $300,000 for working capital
• Long application!
24. …and one Wisconsin Program
Buy Local Buy Wisconsin Program
• Grants up to $50,000 to connect
Wisconsin producers with Wisconsin
consumers
• Wisconsin Local Food Marketing
Guide: a step by step guide for local
food producers interested in entering
local food markets
• datcp.state.wi.us/mktg/business/mark
eting/val-add/directmktg/blbw.jsp;
DatcpBLBW@wi.gov or call Teresa
Engel at 608-224-5101
25. Resources
• Agricultural Innovation Center
fyi.uwex.edu/aic/
• Building Sustainable Places guide
attra.ncat.org/guide/
Grassroots Guide to the Farm Bill
http://sustainableagriculture.net/publication
s/grassrootsguide/
Dairy farm in Chippewa Co: 300 acres of cropland, 400 acres of woods, 400 cows and he’s thinking of expanding to 600
Richard de Wilde, Harmony Valley, organic vegetable farm
Randy Schmidt owns a CAFO and farms 6000 acres in Door County
Traditionally organic farmers had to compete with everybody else for EQIP funds
Share brochure information Explain CSA model Talk briefly of the transition to agro-forestry
Just for producers or groups of producers (including co-ops) Mid-tier value chain, read: transparent regional supply network – made to strengthen the profitability and competitiveness of small and mid-scale farmers
