Organic Cost Share

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides organic producers and handlers with financial assistance every year to reduce the cost of organic certification. The program reimburses producers and handlers for a portion of their paid certification costs. Once certified, organic producers and handlers are eligible to receive reimbursement for 75 percent of certification costs for program year 2023, up to a maximum of $750 per certification scope—crops, livestock, wild crops, handling, and State Organic Program fees. As you all know this is an increase from $500 in previ0us years to $750. 

According to the 2021 USDA Organic Survey released this past December 2022, only about 20% of the organic farmers in Texas ever request this reimbursement of certification costs!  That amounts to $240,000 never claimed by Texas producers for organic expenses – every year. I am trying to figure out a way for the Texas A&M AgriLife Organic program to apply for your “cost share” reimbursement if you don’t want it. Just think of all the organic research, educational programs and farm visits we could do!!!!

Author: Bob Whitney

Extension Organic Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension View all posts by Bob Whitney