Skip to content

Farmer Scholarship Application: Providence 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 (October 23, 2023) & National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting (October 24-26, 2023) in Providence, RI. We will disburse our pool of scholarship money 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 Monday, September 25. 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 Monday, October 23 from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. Learn more.
 
The following topics (and more!) will be discussed during the NOC and NOSB meetings:
  • Policy:  DC organic policy update, 2023 Farm Bill priorities, the new Organic Transition Initiative at USDA, organic animal welfare rules (Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards or OLPS rule), new rules to prevent fraud in organic supply chains (Strengthening Organic Enforcement or SOE rule)
  • Equity: building a more equitable and inclusive organic movement
  • Farmer Issues: helping more farmers go organic, organic dairy challenges, organic certification cost share, innovations to reduce paperwork for certified operations, use of high nitrogen fertilizers, increasing access to land for organic farmers
  • NOSB topics: use of plastic in organic agriculture, inert materials in organic pesticide products, ethylene in pineapple production, crop insurance needs for organic producers, materials used in organic production
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.Will you attend the Pre-NOSB meeting on Monday, October 23?
6.What days are you anticipating attending the Pre-NOSB and NOSB Meetings?
7.Please estimate your total expenses to attend the meeting (if you are driving, mileage will be reimbursed @ $.655/mile). 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 totaling up to the award amount.
8.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?
9.How did you learn about this scholarship opportunity? Which individual or organization shared information with you about how to apply?
10.Optional question - What is your gender?
11.Optional question - Please specify race/ ethnicity/ indigeneity (check all that apply):