September 14, 2009

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) announced today that Nebraska will receive additional funding from USDA to aid the state’s organic producers and processors with certification costs. 

“Nebraska’s organic industry continues to grow. This cost-share program assists our producers in obtaining their certified organic certification,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “Earlier this year, Nebraska producers were able to utilize $60,000 in funds from this program.”

Authorized by the 2007 Farm Bill, the National Organic Program’s (NOP) Cost-Share Program is designed to help producers and handlers of agriculture products in obtaining certification under the NOP guidelines. Those guidelines require certification and compliance with national standards in order to sell, label, or represent agricultural products as organic. Producers and handlers can receive reimbursement for up to 75% of the costs of obtaining certification, with a maximum payment of $750. The actual cost-share amount will be based on a percentage of the total the applicant paid for NOP certification. Nebraska has received an additional $60,000 in federal funds for reimbursement to eligible participants.

Applicants must have been certified or renewed their certification between October 1, 2008, and September 30, 2009, in order to be eligible for cost-share reimbursement. The funds will be reimbursed in the order applications are received, until the monies are exhausted, or until the eligibility period ends. All applications for reimbursement must be postmarked by October 17, 2009.

To find out more about the program, Nebraska’s organic producers and handlers should call NDA at (402) 471-4876 or 800-422-6692.
 

NDA News Release