Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) is a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency that funds cost share assistance for producers and handlers seeking or renewing organic certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Eligible applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

The program covers expenses such as application fees, inspection costs, equivalency agreement fees, inspector travel, user fees, and postage. Awards provide up to 75 percent of certification costs, not to exceed per certification scope (crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling). The 2024 application deadline was October 31, 2024.

OCCSP provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). 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 deadline to apply for 2024 was October 31, 2024.

** Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. 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.

OCCSP pays a maximum of $750 per certification category for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling, and state organic program fees (California only).

* View News Press Release: USDA Easing Producers’ Transition to Organic Production with New Programs and Partnerships, Announces Investments to Create and Expand Organic Markets (May 15, 2024) * View the 2024 Notice of Funds Availability (May 9, 2024) * View the 2019 Notice of Funds Availability 2019 Notice of Funds Availability") (April 29, 2019) * View the2020 Notice of Funds Availability(August 10, 2020) For more information on organic certification and regulations, visit the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s organic website.

Producers and handlers interested in applying for OCCSP through FSA should contact their localUSDA Service Center. 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 departments of agriculture.

FSA also accepted applications from state departments of agriculture to administer OCCSP.

The contact information for the State Departments of Agriculture who chose to participate in OCCSP for 2024 can be found here: (OCCP State Agency Contact List) If a state department of agriculture chose to participate in OCCSP, both the state department of agriculture and FSA County Offices in that state will accept OCCSP applications and make payments to eligible certified operations.

A producer or handler may apply for OCCSP reimbursement from either the state department of agriculture or through a local FSA office; they cannot receive payment from both. However, the producer or handler may only receive OCCSP assistance from either FSA or the participating state department of agriculture.

* Application Form Form: CCC-884") * Instructions for Application Form Instructions for Application Form, CCC-884") * USDA’s Farm Service Agency Offers Organic Certification Cost-Share Program (Video) Annual Reports to Congress The annual reports to Congress provides a state-by-state overview of: * Funds used by each state * Funds reimbursed to certified organic farms and businesses * Number of certified organic farms and businesses served * FY 2022 2022 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2021 2021 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2020 2020 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2019 2019 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2018 2018 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2017 2017 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2016 2016 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2015 2015 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2014 2014 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2013 2013 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2012 2012 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2011 2011 Annual Report to Congress") * FY 2010 2010 Annual Report to Congress")