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Source: USDA, 5/16/22 Agricultural
producers and handlers who are certified organic, along with producers and
handlers who are transitioning to organic production, can now apply for the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) and Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which help producers and handlers
cover the cost of organic certification, along with other related expenses.
Applications for OTECP and OCCSP are both due October 31, 2022. “By helping with organic certification costs – long identified as a barrier to certification – USDA has helped producers participate in new markets while investing in the long-term health of their operations,” said Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We launched the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program to build on the support offered through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program and provide additional assistance to organic and transitioning producers weathering the continued market impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, in response to stakeholder feedback, we have aligned the signup dates for these two organic programs and encourage producers to work with the local USDA Service Centers and State agencies to complete the applications. The FSA, and the USDA broadly, are committed to making sure our Nation’s organic producers and handlers have the tools they need to continue positively shaping our local and regional food systems.” Cost
Share for 2022 OTECP covers:
- Certification
costs for organic producers and handlers (25% up to $250 per category).
- Eligible expenses
for transitional producers, including fees for pre-certification
inspections and development of an organic system plan (75% up to $750).
- Registration fees
for educational events (75% up to $200).
- Soil testing (75%
up to $100).
Meanwhile, OCCSP covers 50% or up to $500
per category of certification costs in 2022. This cost share for certification is
available for each of these categories: crops, wild crops, livestock,
processing/handling and State organic program fees. Producers can receive cost share through
both OTECP and OCCSP. Both OTECP and OCCSP cover costs incurred from October 1,
2021, to September 30, 2022. Producers have until October 31, 2022 to
file applications, and FSA will make payments as applications are
received. How
to Apply To apply, producers and handlers should
contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at their local USDA Service Center. As
part of completing the OCCSP applications, producers and handlers will need to
provide documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses.
Organic producers and handlers may also apply for OCCSP through participating
State agencies. Additional details can be found on the OTECP and OCCSP webpages. Opportunity
for State Agencies FSA is accepting applications for State
agencies to administer OCCSP through July 18, 2022. 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. However, the producer or
handler may only receive OCCSP assistance by either FSA or the participating
State department of agriculture.
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