Kentucky Ag News
USDA announces funding to assist with organic certification costs
USDA
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced Thursday that approximately $11.9 million in organic certification assistance is available through state departments of agriculture to make organic certification more affordable for organic producers and handlers across the country.
"The organic industry saw record growth in 2014, accounting for over $39 billion in retail sales in the United States," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The organic certification cost share programs help more organic businesses succeed and take advantage of economic opportunities in this growing market."
The funding is provided on a cost share basis, and certification assistance is distributed by two programs. Through the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, $11 million is available to organic farms and businesses nationwide. Through the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost Share Program (AMA), an additional $900,000 is available to organic producers (crop and livestock operators only) in Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Funded by the 2014 Farm Bill, these programs provide cost share assistance to USDA certified organic producers and handlers, covering as much as 75 percent of an individual applicant's certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 annually per certification scope. In 2014, USDA issued nearly 10,000 reimbursements totaling over $6 million, providing critical support to the organic community.
To receive cost share assistance, certified organic producers and handlers should contact their appropriate state agencies via the contact information on the National Organic Program's (NOP) cost share website: www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing. Adam Watson, the organic program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, can be reached at adam.watson@ky.gov or (502) 782-4133.
Each state has its own guidelines and requirements for reimbursement, and NOP assists states to successfully implement the programs. Applicants for cost share assistance through the AMA program are encouraged to apply early, as these funds are available only through Sept. 30, 2015.
Additional information is available on the NOP's website at www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing.
The NOP is responsible for ensuring the integrity of USDA organic agricultural products in the United States and throughout the world. Find out more about organic certification by visiting www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
