Program areas at Missouri Organic Association
MOA, working in conjunction with the USDA, is committed to supporting a diverse range of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This effort will expand markets for America's climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.
MOA, in partnership with USDA, works to increase awareness, technical training, and opportunities for organic agricultural production in Missouri. MOA achieves this through producer education focused on production methods and principles, marketing opportunities, guidance for transition and maintenance of organic certification, and other relevant topics.
MOA is the Missouri lead for the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, a USDA program intended to provide technical assistance and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic farmers. MOA is providing direct assistance to producers through technical assistance related to organic transition, community and network development, the establishment of mentor/mentee relationships, and workforce development to support the organic ag industry.
MOA is working to build deeper connections between Missouri producers and NRCS financial assistance programs through workshops, networking conferences, fields days, and virtual learning. MOA connects producers and NRCS programs/resources through in-person explanation of the potential ecological and economic benefits, development of "easy to read" fact sheets, first-hand experience of the practices implemented, and personal testimony from successful recipients of NRCS Farm Bill conservation programs.