National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture

ATTENTION ALL CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCERS AND HANDLERS:

You might be eligible for a partial reimbursement of your certification costs!

If you have paid organic certification fees to a USDA accredited certifier, you may be eligible for a federal reimbursement of up of 75% of your total certification costs.

Certified organic producers and handlers are now eligible for partial reimbursement of organic certification costs. In 2002 the USDA created two organic certification cost-share programs. The first program created receives $1 million annually, available to farmers in 15 states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming). The other program, a one-time allotment of $5 million, is available to the 35 remaining states, their territories, District of Colombia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The federal funds are generally administered through State Departments of Agriculture. Certified organic operations are eligible for a partial reimbursement of up to 75% of total certification costs, not to exceed $500.

Eligibility Requirements:

Certified Organic by a USDA accredited certifier

Some states may give preference to those certified organic entities that have not previously participated in the Organic Certification Cost Share Program.

Application Procedure:

Submit a completed application form (contact State Agricultural Department)
Copy of certification certificate
W9 Form, itemized invoices, and other documents might also be requested

Funds are generally administered through your State Dept. of Agriculture; therefore, if you are certified by an agency outside of your home state, you will still apply for reimbursement with your home state.

For More Information Contact: your State's Department of Agriculture

Local state certifiers, county agricultural commissioners office, and other locations might have applications and more information. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Brise Tencer at the Organic Farming Research Foundation at (831) 426-6606 or or Bob Pooler, USDA National Organic Program at .