• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Agriculture / Grant will help organic growers

Grant will help organic growers

February 14, 2003 By admin

A small federal grant will help organic growers in Iowa get certified. Maury Wills is organic program administrators in Iowa’s ag department, and says USDA’s sending about 125-thousand dollars to help local growers through a rather demanding process.He says you need to go through a detailed application process including filling out an organic handling-system plan, and undergo an annual inspection of the farm. Right now Wills says there are about 400 certified organic growers in the state, and some 2100 processors.He explains processors are people who handle things like organic grain, or manufacture organic food in the state. They must pay application fees, inspection fees, and a further charge for certification that’s based on the size of the operation or volume of sales. Those costs may be offset by the USDA’s grant, though Wills says 125-thousand dollars may not go far enough. It’s likely that if everyone who’s eligible applies, they’ll have to go back to USDA and ask for more money. And Wills says it looks like the federal agriculture department will provide more money for the program, if it’s requested.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Agriculture

Featured Stories

Iowa State Patrol tactical team leader killed in Grundy Center stand-off

Finalists chosen for the state’s top burger

Paintings by Clinton woman gain a following in Europe

Iowa deadline for individual income taxpayers moved to June 1

Dialing rules changing for two area codes in Iowa

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

New title sponsor for Des Moines Marathon

Iowa State adds Minnesota transfer

Cedar Rapids preparing for big return of sports events

Iowa Games returning with full slate of sports

Iowa’s Garza sweeps national awards

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC