BOISE, Idaho -- Idaho's certified organic producers and those making the transition to organic production have until April 19 to apply for special financial assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Organic Initiative is operated under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which funds a portion of growers' costs to implement certain conservation practices to address resource degradation.

For example, organic producers who use cover crops to add nitrogen to their crop rotation can receive $30 to $89 per acre. Other practices covered include mulching, irrigation water management and nutrient management. It will be the second registration for fiscal year 2013. NRCS will make evaluations and award contracts to the highest ranking applications.

--John O'Connell