WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week new programs, partnerships, grant awards and an additional $10 million in funding to expand the markets for organic products and help producers transition to organic production.
These programs will support the development of new and better markets for domestic organic products, provide hands-on training to producers transitioning to organic production and ease the financial burden of obtaining organic certification.
“Offsetting the costs for organic transition helps more farmers realize higher margins sooner while giving consumers more access to high-demand organic products,” Secretary Vilsack said.
“The partnerships and technical support we offer will ease the transition for producers, and the investments in grant projects we are announcing today will reduce the organic industry’s reliance on imports, lower cost barriers for businesses transitioning to organic, and address crucial infrastructure needs. Together, these resources ensure small and mid-sized producers can gain access to new, profitable markets and further our commitment to maximize American farmers’ share of the food dollar.”
He was nominated by President Joe Biden to return to a role where he served for eight years under President Barack Obama. USDA photo by Tom Witham
The announcements build on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) comprehensive approach to support local and regional food systems, expand access to markets to more producers, and increase the affordable food supply for more Americans while promoting climate-smart agriculture and ensuring equity for all producers.
Supporting Development of New, Better Markets for Organic Producers
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) also awarded approximately $24.8 million for 23 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program. These projects will support the development of new and existing organic markets to increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural products. .
With today’s announcement, AMS has awarded a total of $75.2 million to 93 projects across the nation through the Organic Market Development Grant program to increase the availability and demand for domestically produced organic agricultural products and to address the need for additional market paths. AMS previously announced awards through this program in January and March 2024.
USDA has made an additional $10 million available through the program. Awards for this funding will be selected from the existing applicants and will be announced this summer.
Easing Financial Burden of Obtaining Organic Certification
Through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category.
OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of organic agricultural commodities for expenses incurred obtaining or maintaining organic certification under USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent.
Cost share assistance covers expenses including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, inspector travel expenses, user fees, sales assessments and postage. OCCSP pays a maximum of $750 per certification category for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling, and state organic program fees (California only).
Organic producers and handlers should apply for OCCSP by the Oct. 31, 2024, deadline for eligible expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. FSA will issue payments as applications are received and approved.
The FSA is also accepting applications from state departments of agriculture to administer OCCSP. FSA posted a funding opportunity summary on grants.gov and will electronically mail the Notice of Funding Opportunity to all eligible state departments of agriculture. Applications from state departments are due July 12, 2024.
To apply, producers and handlers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center and be prepared to provide documentation of organic certification and eligible expenses. OCCSP applications can be submitted to USDA or through participating state departments of agriculture, but not both. For more information, visit the OCCSP webpage.
For more information, visit www.farmers.gov/organic.