Organic Certification Cost Share Program

Organic Certification Cost Share Program is sponsored by Kansas Department of Agriculture. This program provides cost share assistance to organic producers and/or organic handlers to help with the costs of organic certification.

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Certified operations may receive up to 75 percent of their certification costs paid during the program year, not to exceed $750 per certification scope. The four organic certification scopes are crops, livestock, wild crop, and processor/handler. Both KDA and USDA FSA county offices accept OCCSP applications and make payments to eligible certified operations.

However, a producer or handler may only receive OCCSP assistance from either KDA or USDA FSA. Kansas farms and businesses that produce, process or package certified organic agricultural products are eligible for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Under the program, eligible producers or handlers may receive reimbursement for 75% of their certification costs up to $750 per scope.

Reimbursable certification costs can include any certification-related expenses such as inspection fees and user fees. Any invoices paid between the inclusive dates are eligible for reimbursement, regardless of which year’s certification they are applied to. Due to delays, the 2025 and 2026 Organic Certification Cost Share Programs will run simultaneously.

County USDA FSA offices are currently accepting applications. KDA anticipates being able to accept applications in late summer. ## Frequently Asked Questions What is the reimbursement amount available to a certified operation?

A certified operation may be reimbursed for up to 75% of their allowable certification costs, not to exceed $750 per certification. What costs are reimbursable? Eligible costs include costs include application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement/arrangement requirements, travel/per diem for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.

What costs are not reimbursable? Ineligible costs include equipment, materials, supplies, transitional certification fees, late fees and inspections necessary to address National Organic Program regulatory violations. What is the maximum reimbursement amount available to a certified operation?

The maximum reimbursement is $750 per certification scope. An operation may be certified under more than one certification scope. Since there are four possible certification scopes in Kansas, the maximum reimbursement amount is $3,000.

## Additional Resources for Organic Producers * USDA Organic Integrity Database * USDA Organic Certification and Accreditation * USDA Organic Product Labeling Requirements * USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program Kansas Department of Agriculture 1320 Research Park Dr. Manhattan, KS 66502 Design By Granicus Connecting People & Government