The Organic Certification Cost Share Program is back after a one-year pause. Cost share is a popular program because it reimburses certified organic producers and handlers 75 percent of eligible certification costs, up to $750 for each eligible scope. Eligible scopes are Crops, Livestock, Wild Crops, and Processing/Handling.
There are a few changes in cost share this year:
- USDA is accepting cost share applications for both 2025 and 2026. Producers need to submit a separate application for each year.
- State departments of agriculture are not processing cost share applications at this time. While they may manage cost share later in the year, currently the only way to apply is through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
- If an applicant for cost share has not previously established an account with FSA, they will have to make an appointment to go into their local FSA office in person to set up an account. Use this link to find the office closest to you: FSA Office Locator
Applications for both years are due December 31, 2026. USDA will issue payments as applications are received on a first-come, first-served basis.
¿Quiénes pueden participar?
To qualify for 2026 cost share, a producer or handler must:
- Be certified organic at the time of application
- Have paid eligible expenses for initial certification or certification renewal during the year
- Have the applicable certification scope(s) listed on their organic certificate
To be eligible for 2025 cost share reimbursement, applicants must have obtained or renewed organic certification and paid certification fees at some point during the year.
CCOF Support
CCOF encourages all of our certified organic members to apply for cost share and provides helpful information to make it easy for you to apply. See details on applying below.
CCOF will send an email to all members in October that will contain:
- Your organic certificates for 2025 and 2026
- Cost share application forms filled out with your certification and payment information for 2025 and 2026. You will need to fill in your mailing address, sign the applications, and fill out and submit any additional required forms, such as the Customer Data Worksheet.
- Payment reports for 2025 and 2026 showing eligible expenses paid and the date they were paid.
Additionally, CCOF will hold a weekly office hour dedicated to assisting members with applying for cost share. Office hours will be held Wednesdays, Noon-1:00 PM PST via Zoom beginning September 30. The link to join office hours is https://ccof.zoom.us/j/88412145393, meeting ID 884 1214 5393.
For additional information, refer to CCOF’s Cost Share page. You may also email your cost share inquiries to costshare@ccof.org.
Do It Yourself: Download Your Organic Certificate and Eligible Expenses From MyCCOF
MyCCOF is a convenient online portal to access and download your organic certificates and invoices showing eligible expenses paid. As always, your active 2026 NOP Certificate is available to download and your 2025 certificate, titled “NOP Certificate 2025 Cost Share,” is available for download through the end of 2026. Log into your MyCCOF portal here. Si no estás seguro de cuál es tu contraseña, puedes restablecerla desde la página de inicio de sesión.
If you are submitting an invoice that includes both eligible and ineligible fees, submit it “as is” with the application, but only include the sum of eligible fees in box 14a, “eligible expenses,” on the cost share application form.
Please note: All eligible costs are for payments made between October 1 of the previous year and September 30 of the application year based on the date they are paid, not the date they were billed.
If you run into issues using MyCCOF, you can email us at inbox@ccof.org or call us at (831) 423-2263 for help.
Cómo solicitarlo
Producers and handlers should submit a complete application to their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office. Contact the office to find out where to send your application.
Una solicitud completa se completa de la siguiente manera:
- Both pages of the Organic Certification Cost Share application (form CCC-884)
- Una copia de la certificación orgánica del solicitante
- Itemized documentation showing eligible certification expenses paid by the applicant between October 1 of the previous year and September 30 of the application year
- A Customer Data Worksheet (form AD-2047) and ACH Vendor/Misc. Payment Enrollment Form (form SF-3881si el solicitante no ha presentado previamente estos formularios ante la FSA
Obtén ayuda de la FSA
Your FSA representative is available to help you apply for cost share. Reach out to them with any questions on how to submit your application or technical support needed to complete your forms. Click on the link for information on how to contact your local FSA county office. They will also give you information on where you should submit your application.
For an overview of the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, visit the program website. Follow this link to view and download the Solicitud para el Programa de costos compartidos para la certificación orgánica.
Applicants may also find it helpful to review the Instrucciones para presentar la solicitud al Programa de costos compartidos para la certificación orgánica.
Productores y procesadores de California pueden ponerse en contacto con Brooke Raffaele en Brooke.Raffaele@usda.gov if they encounter any challenges with applying.
Funding is limited, so eligible operations should apply as soon as possible and no later than the deadline of 31 de diciembre de 2026.
El Programa de Participación en los Costos de Certificación Orgánica es administrado por el USDA. CCOF no procesa ni otorga la aprobación de solicitudes.
Photo credit: Asa McCroskey of Do Right Flower Farm poses with a clipboard. Photo by: Justin Benttinen
