Organic certification cost share available from Farm Service Agency

Have you ever considered transitioning all or part of your dairy or crop enterprise to organic production? If so, you may be interested in programs available through your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. These include the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) and the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP). 

Organic Certification Cost Share

The OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers who are obtaining organic certification for the first time or renewing their previous certification. Organic certification is obtained through certifying agents accredited by the USDA National Organic Program. 

This program provides 50% of a certified operation’s allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500. The following categories are included: crops, livestock, wild crops, processing/handling and organic program fees. Cost-share is provided on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds are obligated. 

This program is available until Sept. 30. To be eligible, a producer must have both a valid organic certification for their operation at the time of application and paid fees or expenses related to its initial certification or renewal for certification from a certifying agent.

Allowable costs under the OCCSP include: application fees and administrative fees; inspection fees, including travel and per diem for organic inspectors; USDA organic certification costs; user fees or sale assessments; and postage

Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program

The OTECP provides financial assistance to producers interested in obtaining or renewing USDA organic certification. 

In addition to many acronyms, there are certain terms that producers need to know the definitions of. These include certified operation, educational event, soil testing, micronutrients, transitional operation, and USDA organic certification. These terms are defined below: 

Certified operation: a crop or livestock production, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation, or portion of such operation, that is certified by an accredited certifying agent. 

Educational event: an event, conference, training program or workshop, that provides educational content addressing topics related to organic production and handling.

Soil testing: soil testing to document micronutrient deficiencies. 

Micronutrients: can not be used as a defoliant, herbicide or desiccant. Those made from nitrates or chlorides are not allowed. Deficiencies must be documented by soil or tissue testing.

Transitional operation: a crop or livestock production operation that is transitioning to organic production in anticipation of obtaining USDA organic certification and has an organic system plan from a certifying agent. 

USDA organic certification: a determination made by a certifying agent that a production or handling operation is in compliance with the Organic Production Act of 1990. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for OTECP, an applicant must have paid eligible costs during the program year and, at the time of application, be either a certified or a transitional operation. Expenses that have been incurred during the program year but not paid by the applicant are not eligible for cost-share assistance. 

Eligibility for the OTECP is based on the date expenses are paid, rather than on the date the organic certification is effective. 

Eligible categories. Certified organic operations may have expenses for any combination of the following categories: crops, wild crops, livestock, handling/processing, program fees, soil testing and educational events. Transitional organic operations may have expenses for any combination of transitional operation, soil testing and educational events. 

Payment amounts and limitations. For certified operations, the certification of crops, livestock, wild crops, handling and state organic program fees is 25% up to $250.

Transitional operations can get 75% up to $750 for eligible transition expenses. 

Both certified and transitional operations can get 75% up to $100 for educational event registration fees and 75% up to $150 for soil testing.

Required documentation. In addition to dividing expenses paid by category, applicants self-certify to having either a valid organic certificate or documentation to show a transition to organic. Applicants must retain documentation in support of their application for three years after the date of approval. 

Additional information. If you are interested in learning more about this or other Farm Service Agency programs, contact your local FSA office. For Ohio-specific information about the organic certification process, consult the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association: certification.oeffa.org/.