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Here are some suggested talking point from the Organic Farming Research Foundation:

• Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. agricultural production and organic food is one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. food retail market.
• Organic farming systems have the potential to conserve water, improve air quality, and build soil quality while providing high quality food and fiber for consumers here and abroad.
• If we want to see the U.S. organic sector continue to grow and thrive, we need to invest in programs that support organic farmers, including:

Research and Extension Programs that expand the breadth of knowledge about organic farming systems and provide that knowledge to organic farmers.
Conservation Programs that reward organic farmers for the conservation benefits of organic farming systems and provide technical support for organic farmers who want to improve on-farm conservation.
Transition Programs that provide technical support to farmers who want to transition to organic farming practices but don’t know how.
Crop Insurance Programs that work for organic farmers and reimburse them for any losses based on the organic market value of the crop, not average conventional prices.

Please include any other points you think are relevant.

“This additional funding will enable even more landowners to protect environmentally and economically important agricultural land and preserve the resources that are so critical to the health and prosperity of our rural communities,” said Don Gohmert, NRCS state conservationist for Texas. “The funding will assist landowners in protecting Texas grassland and conserve a resource base on which we all depend.”

GRP helps landowners and operators protect working grasslands, including hay land, pastureland, native grasslands and certain other lands through rental contracts or conservation easements.  NRCS and USDA’s Farm Service Agency jointly administer the program.

For information on eligibility, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit NRCS online at http://www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GRP.

Contact:
Mark Habiger, 254-742-9881, mark.habiger@tx.usda.gov
Lori Valadez, 254-742-9811, lori.valadez@tx.usda.gov

Applications will be accepted for FY 10 funding through June 11, 2010

TEMPLE, TEXAS, May 12, 2010 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from Texas agricultural landowners for the next Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) funding cycle that ends on June 11, 2010.  Applications are accepted on a continuous basis and those not received by June 11 will be considered for funding after Oct. 1, 2010.

“CSP supports ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands by providing payments for maintaining and enhancing natural resources,” said Don Gohmert, NRCS state conservationist for Texas.

Congress limited enrollment for CSP nationally at 12.7 million acres per year. Applicants will compete within state-identified ranking pools, which in Texas are water quantity, soil erosion, plant health and condition, water quality, and animal health.

Producers are encouraged to apply for CSP now to ensure their applications will be considered during this funding and ranking period. However, they can make their final decision to participate in the program before they sign a contract. USDA expects the CSP final rule, which establishes the policies and procedures for the program, to be announced within the next several weeks.

CSP, authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and who agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland and non-industrial forestland.

Potential applicants are encouraged to use the CSP self-screening checklist to determine if the new program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available from local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offices or on the NRCS Web site athttp://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html.

CSP offers two types of potential payments—an annual payment and a supplemental payment. The annual payment will be determined by estimating the environmental benefits produced by the conservation activities a producer installs and maintains. A supplemental payment is available to participants who receive an annual payment and adopt a resource-conserving crop rotation on cropland.

For more information about CSP, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html.

For more information and to register, visit: http://www.extension.org/article/25971