The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that beginning on March 20, certified organic producers may apply for federal assistance for certification cost share reimbursement through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Organic producers can visit any one of USDA’s 2,124 local county offices to receive a reimbursement for up to 75% of certification costs each year up to $750 per certification scope.

The USDA added that “producers and handlers may submit OCCSP applications to FSA county offices beginning March 20, or they may apply through participating state agencies.” Participating state agencies will be listed on FSA’s website soon.

Previously, the cost share programs were administered by state departments of agriculture. The funding application package for state agencies that may still be interested in administering the program will be posted on grants.gov this week. The application deadline is Feb. 17, 2017.

For more information on organic certification and regulations, visit the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s web page at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic.

Below are some example of other programs that organic producers could benefit from:

• Financial assistance to establish conservation buffer zones
• Financial assistance for crop losses due to natural disaster
• Interim financing after harvest                                  
• Loans for storage facilities
• Low-interest loans