USDA accepting applications for cover organic certification costs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency is now accepting applications, and organic producers and handlers should apply for OCCSP by the Oct. 31 deadline for eligible expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. FSA will issue payments as applications are received and approved.

“Costs associated with obtaining organic certification can be a barrier for Illinois producers wanting to get certified,” said Scott Halpin, Illinois FSA state executive director.

“Through OCCSP assistance, FSA helps Illinois organic producers obtain certification and leverage related benefits like premium prices for commodities and access to broader markets and additional technical assistance.”

OCCSP was part of a broader organic announcement made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on May 15, which also included the Organic Market Development Grant program and Organic Transition Initiative.

Eligible Applicants

OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of organic agricultural commodities for expenses incurred obtaining or maintaining organic certification under USDA’s National Organic Program.

Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

Cost-share assistance covers expenses including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, inspector travel expenses, user fees, sales assessments and postage.

OCCSP pays a maximum of $750 per certification category for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing and handling and, in California only, state organic program fees.

How To Apply

To apply, producers and handlers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center and be prepared to provide documentation of organic certification and eligible expenses.

OCCSP applications can also be submitted through participating state departments of agriculture. For more information, visit the OCCSP webpage at https://tinyurl.com/bdhutt4t.

FSA is also accepting applications from state departments of agriculture to administer OCCSP. FSA posted a funding opportunity summary on grants.gov and will electronically mail the Notice of Funding Opportunity to all eligible state departments of agriculture. Applications are due July 12.

If a state department of agriculture chooses to participate in OCCSP, both the state department of agriculture and FSA county offices in that state will accept OCCSP applications and make payments to eligible certified operations.

Producers or handlers can receive OCCSP assistance from either FSA or the participating state department of agriculture, but not both.

USDA offers other assistance for organic producers, including the Organic Transition Initiative, which includes direct farmer assistance for organic production and processing and conservation. For more information on organic agriculture, visit farmers.gov/organic.

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting, as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account.