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Farmer Scholarship Application: Fall 2025 Omaha (NE) NOSB Meeting

The National Organic Coalition (NOC) is offering a limited number of scholarships to farmers who want to attend the NOC Pre-NOSB meeting (November 3, 2025) & National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting (November 4-6, 2025) in Omaha, NE.

Scholarships can cover any travel-related expenses (mileage, transportation, meals, accommodations if needed). Scholarships will be disbursed based on the number of applications and stated needs, so the amount of each scholarship is unknown at this time.

Priority will be given to farmers who apply by Friday, September 26. NOC has limited funds and may not be able to grant all scholarship requests.

Scholarship recipients are asked to attend the NOC Pre-NOSB meeting if possible on November 3, from 9 am to 5 pm.

The following topics (and more!) will be discussed during the NOC and NOSB meetings:
  • Policy: DC organic policy update, Farm Bill status, changes at USDA and the potential impact on organic, the Transition to Organic Partnership Program.
  • Farmer Issues: challenges and opportunities for organic and transitioning farmers, organic certification cost share support, reducing certification burdens.
  • NOSB topics: use of paper and synthetic compostable materials as compost feedstocks, residue testing to detect fraud, how oxytocin is used in livestock production, should induced mutagenesis be allowed for organic seed breeding, materials used in organic production, and more.


You can learn more about the meeting agenda, as well as the proposals and discussion documents the Board is discussing here: https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/blog/2025/9/3/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-fall-2025-nosb-meeting
1.Please tell us about yourself and your farm.
2.Are you certified organic or transitioning to organic?
3.Have you been to an NOSB or Pre-NOSB meeting before?
4.What organic issues are most important to you?
5.If you receive the scholarship, will you attend the Pre-NOSB meeting on Monday, November 3?
6.Are you planning on delivering oral comments to the NOSB?
(Learn more)
7.If you receive the scholarship, what days are you hoping to attend the Pre-NOSB and NOSB Meetings?
8.Please outline and estimate your total expenses to attend the meeting.

NOC can cover the cost of travel, hotel, and meals. Scholarships will be paid upon the submission of copies of receipts (and mileage) to NOC.

(if you are driving, mileage will be reimbursed at the IRS reimbursement rate of @ $.70/mile)
9.Depending on the number of applications received, NOC may be able to provide a scholarship to cover a portion of your travel costs. Would a partial scholarship be helpful to you or do you need a full scholarship in order to participate in the meeting?
10.How did you learn about this scholarship opportunity? Which individual or organization shared information with you about how to apply?
11.Optional question - Please specify race/ ethnicity/ indigeneity (check all that apply):
12.Do you have any questions or comments?