USDA Helps Organic Producers with Certification Costs - RAFI

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting applications to help with organic certification costs for the 2025 and 2026 program years through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which covers up to 75% of eligible organic certification costs. Producers and handlers must apply by Dec. 31, 2026, for both program years.

Cost Share Assistance

OCCSP provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the National Organic Program, which is administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Producers and handlers are eligible to receive 75% of the costs, up to $750 for each of the following scopes: crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling, and state organic program fees. FSA will make payments as applications are received on a first-come, first-served basis until available funds are depleted.

Eligibility

To be eligible for OCCSP, a producer or handler must have their USDA organic certification for the applicable program year at the time of application and must have paid fees or expenses related to the initial certification or renewal from a certifying agent during the program year.

Eligible costs include:

• Application and administrative fees for USDA organic certification
• Inspection fees for USDA organic certification, including travel and per diem costs for organic inspectors
• USDA organic certification costs, including fees necessary to access international markets with which AMS has equivalency agreements or arrangements
• State organic program fees
• User and sale assessment fees for USDA organic certification
• Postage costs for materials related to obtaining or renewing USDA organic certification.

How to Apply

To apply, producers and handlers should contact their local FSA county office, complete form CCC-884 and submit required supporting documentation to support the scopes and costs entered on the CCC-884 application form. As part of completing the OCCSP application, producers and handlers will need to provide documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses. Organic producers and handlers may also apply for OCCSP through participating state agencies.