Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)

I got emails from several of the national organic groups telling me that the Cost Share program for organic certification was finally open. On one of the emails, they had a link to the website so I could actually see how the program was going to work. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is still the place to go to sign up for most organic producers since you are probably there doing other business anyway.

Here is the Link: Organic Certification Cost Share

Who Is Eligible

Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent.  OCCSP pays a maximum of $750 per certification category for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling, and state organic program fees. The scopes must be listed on the producer or handler’s organic certificate to be eligible for OCCSP. 

Eligible costs include:  

• Application fees and administrative fees for USDA organic certification 
• Inspection fees for USDA organic certification, including travel costs and per diem for organic inspectors 
• USDA organic certification costs, including fees necessary to access international markets with which AMS has equivalency agreements or arrangements 
• State organic program fees 
• User fees and sale assessments for USDA organic certification 
• Postage for materials related to obtaining or renewing USDA organic certification 

Opportunity for State Agency Participation 

FSA will soon announce a 30-day application period for state agencies to apply through grants.gov to administer OCCSP.   

The state agency for Texas that does also handle the Cost Share program is the Texas Department of Agriculture or at least it has been! Typically, TDA has done it as an online application, and it has not mattered who your certifier is but simply that you follow the application process. This is what the current TDA website is showing but I am assuming it will be updated soon!