Read the origina.post from USDA here
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today
announced that organic producers and handlers can now apply for funds
to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic
certification. Applications for the Organic Certification Cost Share
Program (OCCSP) are due Nov. 1, 2021.
OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to
producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or
maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program.
Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid
organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent during the
2021 and any subsequent program year. Producers
can be reimbursed for expenses made between Oct. 1,
2020 and Sept. 30, 2021 including application fees,
inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement
requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and
postage.
This funding will be complemented by an
additional $20 million for organic and transitioning producers through the
Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. More information on that funding
will be available in the coming weeks.