cost share

Receive a 75% Refund of Your Certification Fees

Certified organic operations across the US can apply for a reimbursement of 75% of their certification-related expenses up to a maximum of $750 per scope now through the end of October. Scopes are crops, wild crops, livestock, and processing/handling. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept cost share applications in all US states and territories.

Organic Certification Cost Share Season Begins in California

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will open the organic certification cost share program to applicants beginning June 14, 2023. Application materials may be found online at the CDFA website. CDFA will only accept applications submitted by mail or email. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2023.

Cost Share Organic Certification Fee Refund Application Period Still Open

The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program is still open for 2022 applications, but only a few months remain to apply for funds. Through this program, eligible operations will be reimbursed up to 50% of their organic certification costs, not to exceed $500, for each NOP scope of organic certification. Eligible operations can also receive a refund of California State Organic Program registration fees.

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Organic Certification Cost Share Is Back! Get a Refund of Your Organic Certification Fees

The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program is now open for 2022 applications!

All currently certified organic entities in the United States are eligible to apply for a refund of 50% of their certification-related costs, including inspection fees, up to a maximum of $500 per certification or certified scope between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022. Eligible scopes are crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling. Operations located in California can also receive a refund of their State Organic Program registration fees. 

Two Organic Cost-Share Programs Open for Applications

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has opened two organic cost-share programs for applications. Certified organic operations may apply for and receive reimbursement from both programs.

“Original” cost share offers organic operation reimbursement of 50 percent of eligible expenses related to certification, including State Organic Program registration fees up to a maximum of $500 per scope. Find more information on the “original” cost-share program at the USDA’s website

Take Action to Save Organic Cost Share

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that they are reducing reimbursement rates for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Congress set the current reimbursement rates in the 2018 Farm Bill at 75 percent of the certified organic operation’s eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $750 per scope. FSA plans to lower the rate to 50 percent of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $500 per scope. This reduction comes in the middle of a global crisis, at a time when it is critical to support our organic farms as essential to our recovery.