National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
The National Organic Certification Cost Share program (NOCCSP) is authorized under section 10606(d)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 7901 note), as amended by section 10004(c) of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill; Pub. L. 113â₏“79). Under this authority, Congress authorizes the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide organic certification cost share assistance to organic operations (producers and handlers) located within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. Territories including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (subsequently, referred to as states or state agencies). The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers the NOCCSP using relevant sections of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the Uniform Grant Guidance, 2 CFR 200. AMS awards NOCCSP funds to eligible state agencies, which operate as a pass-through system, by accepting and approving their applications so that they can issue reimbursements to organic operations for specific organic certification costs. In federal fiscal year 2015, the available funding for the NOCCSP is approximately $10.3M. This is the initial request for applications from state agencies, in accordance with the issuance of the AMS â₏œOrganic Certification Cost Share Program Fiscal Year 2015 Terms and Conditionsâ₏ which outlines the eligibility and performance criteria for state agencies seeking NOCCSP funds. The AMS may issue multi-year grant agreements to allocate funds to eligible state agencies, using performance and past expenditures as the primary factor to determine, if any, additional funds should be allocated after the initial request. Certified organic operations may request reimbursement for specific certification costs incurred from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. The state agencies may provide reimbursements to certified organic operators for up to 75% of the operationâ₏™s total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 per certification scope: crops, livestock, wild crops, and for handling (i.e. processing). To receive cost share assistance, certified organic producers and handlers must contact their respective State Department of Agriculture. Additional procedures on the NOCCSP and how state agencies can apply are outlined in the AMS â₏œOrganic Certification Cost Share Program Fiscal Year 2015 Terms and Conditionsâ₏ document at http://bit.ly/CostShareGen
Office: Agricultural Marketing Service
Chief of Staff
Phone 202-690-3962
