Organic farming conservation practices will now be eligible for Environmental Quality Incentives Program cost-share funds. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced $50 million for a new initiative to meet the Obama adminsitration&squo;s promise to encourage more organic agriculture production. North Carolina will receive $1,021,496 under the new initiative. Applications received from organic producers or producers in transition to organic farming will be accepted under this initiative between May 11 and May 29. Applications will be ranked at that time. For more information, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/.