National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program: On Hold

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National Program on Hold; Funding Only Available in 16 States

Farmers, take note. The Organic Certification Cost-Share Program, which is usually administered nationally, is not available to producers in many states this year. The national program has no funding, because a new farm bill was not passed last year and the farm bill extension apparently does not make these funds available.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has a separate cost-share program, for which organic producers and handlers in some states are eligible.

This information comes by way of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

Excerpt: The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released a notice of funds availability for the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost-Share Program earlier this week in the Federal Register.  The notice invites 16 states (Northeastern states plus Hawaii, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming) to submit a grant application to AMS for organic certification cost-share funds, totaling over $1.3 million.

The program helps defray costs of organic certification for organic crop and livestock producers.  Eligible producers can receive up to 75 percent of the certification costs, up to a maximum of $750.  Organic certification is an annual process and cost for organic producers and handlers.

You can read more about this on NSAC’s blog. The application deadline is August 30; application information and additional details can be found in the USDA notice.