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Cost share
#National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
The Organic Certification Cost Share Program has received an investment of $8 million per year through 2031 under the latest federal budget reconciliation legislation. 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. Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent.
The Organic Certification Cost Share Program historically reimburses 75% of eligible certification fees, up to $750 per scope. Scopes Include:
- Crop
- Livestock
- Handling
- Wild crop
We’ll provide more information soon on how to access the new round of funding as program details are finalized.
Once the funding announcement has been made, organic operations can apply at their local Farm Service Agency office or through participating state departments of agriculture. Oregon Tilth is happy to provide copies of invoices for fees paid and certificates (when applicable) for the clients we certify. Contact us at costshare@tilth.org for assistance.
Oregon Tilth had long advocated for Cost Share as it helps reduce the expense of certification and is especially important to smaller, midsized, and historically underserved communities. We will continue to advocate for improvements to the program this year to ensure it continues to support organic producers.