Pre-NOSB & NOSB Meeting Farmer Scholarships Available

[March 20, 2024]     The National Organic Coalition (NOC) is offering a limited number of travel scholarships to farmers who want to attend the NOC Pre-NOSB meeting (April 28, 2024) & National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting (April 29 - May 1, 2024) in Milwaukee, WI.

The following topics (and more!) will be discussed during the NOC and NOSB meetings:

Policy: DC organic policy update, Farm Bill priorities, USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative, and priorities for regulatory updates at USDA.

Equity: building a more equitable and inclusive organic movement

Farmer Issues: helping more farmers transition to organic, organic certification cost share, use of high nitrogen fertilizers, increasing access to land for organic farmers, organic agriculture is regenerative and climate-friendly agriculture, and more.

NOSB topics: use of compost in organic agriculture, inert materials in organic pesticide products, crop insurance needs for organic producers, materials used in organic production, organic swine production.

Interested farmers should fill out this online application.

Priority will be given to farmers who apply by April 1. Farmers who apply by April 1 will be notified of scholarship awards no later than April 5.

Scholarship values will vary depending on the number of applications received, and what the specific needs are. Priority will be given to certified or transitioning organic farmers in the Midwest region who have never received a NOC scholarship before. We ask that scholarship recipients attend the NOC Pre-NOSB Meeting on Sunday, April 28, if possible.

We encourage farmers to make oral comments to the NOSB by webinar on April 23 or April 25, or in person in Milwaukee during the NOSB Meeting. Learn more about making oral comments here, or reach out to julia@organic
farmersassociation.org with questions. Register here to give oral comments.

The NOC scholarship is meant to cover any travel related expenses (mileage, parking, transportation, meals, lodging, etc.). Farmers who receive a scholarship will be reimbursed for expenses within 30 days of submitting travel expense receipts. NOC may be able to book and pay for hotel expenses up front. Please direct any questions about the scholarship application process to: [e-mail]

[Marbleseed]