Last updated on August 29th, 2022 at 01:28 pm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said approximately $11.9 million in organic certification assistance is available through state departments of agriculture to make organic certification more affordable for organic producers and handlers across the country.
Through the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, $11 million is available to organic farms and businesses nationwide. Through the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program, an additional $900,000 is available to organic producers (crop and livestock operators only) in Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Funded by the 2014 Farm Bill, these programs provide cost-share assistance to USDA certified-organic producers and handlers, covering as much as 75 percent of an individual applicant’s certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 annually per certification scope.
To receive cost share assistance, certified organic producers and handlers should contact their appropriate state agencies via the contact information on the National Organic Program’s (NOP) website: ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing.
Each state has its own guidelines and requirements for reimbursement and NOP assists states to successfully implement the programs. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as these funds are only available through Sept. 30.
