The Kansas Department of Agriculture has funds available for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP). Through this program, farms, ranches, and businesses that produce, process or package certified organic agricultural products may be reimbursed for eligible expenses.
The
Kansas Department of Agriculture has funds available for the National Organic
Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP). Through this program, farms,
ranches, and businesses that produce, process or package certified organic
agricultural products may be reimbursed for eligible expenses.
The purpose of the
NOCCSP is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic
certification under the National Organic Program. For Federal Fiscal Year 2022,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency set the reimbursement
amount at 50% of the certified organic operation’s eligible expenses, up to a
maximum of $500 per scope. Scopes include the areas of crops, livestock, wild
crops, and handling (i.e., processing). This change is due to a limited amount
of funding available and will allow a larger number of certified organic
operations to receive assistance.
FSA awards the
NOCCSP funds to eligible state agencies that serve as administering entities
who work directly with organic operations to reimburse organic certification
costs. The current period of qualification for organic operations seeking
reimbursements is from Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022. Applications are
now being accepted through November 1, 2022, or until all funds are expended,
whichever comes first. Applications may be submitted either by mail or email.
It is the mission of KDA to support all facets
of agriculture, including lending support to those who wish to market and sell
their products as certified organic. For more information, go to the KDA
website at agriculture.ks.gov/OrganicCostShare or contact
KDA economist Tori Laird at AgEconomist@ks.gov or 785-564-6726.