By Andi Anderson
USDA's Organic Certification Cost Share Program assists farmers by covering up to 75% of the costs associated with organic certification, up to $750 per category. This program can help farmers to reduce the financial burden of becoming certified organic, and make it more affordable for them to transition to organic production.
To be eligible for OCCSP, farmers must be certified organic by a USDA-approved certifying agent. They must also have paid all of their certification fees for the year in which they are applying for the program.
Farmers can apply for OCCSP through their local USDA Service Center. They will need to provide documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses, such as application fees, inspection costs, and travel expenses.
The OCCSP application deadline is October 31 of each year. Farmers are encouraged to apply early, as funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition to OCCSP, there are a number of other resources available to help farmers transition to organic production. The USDA's National Organic Program website provides information on organic certification, organic regulations, and organic farming practices. Farmers can also contact their local FSA office for assistance with organic certification and other USDA programs.
The highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 are designed to protect soil and water resources. Farmers who are planning to convert land from native vegetation to commodity crop production must file a form with FSA and implement a conservation plan or system that limits erosion. Farmers who are removing trees or conducting other land manipulations that may affect wetlands must also update their form with FSA.
Farmers who are unsure of whether their activities will comply with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions should contact their local FSA office.
Photo Credit: organic-istock-fotosipsak
Categories: Ohio, Crops