1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
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.
Get alerted about grants like this
Get emailed when new opportunities from “U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA)” or related funders appear. Free, weekly, unsubscribe anytime.
Or search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
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")
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Certified organic ranchers and handlers who have paid certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $750 per certification. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) are due October 31, 2026. This is an annual program. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) is funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). 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).
Microloan Program (USDA) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). The USDA Microloan Program allows beginning, small, and mid-sized farmers and ranchers to access up to $35,000 in loans using a simplified application process. This program aims to support farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit.
Certified Mediation Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). The USDA Certified Mediation Program makes grants to state-designated entities that provide alternative dispute resolution through mediation to agricultural producers, their lenders, and others directly affected by the actions of certain USDA agencies. Mediation helps to avoid expensive and time-consuming administrative appeals and/or litigation.
The Department of Defense FY2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) provides funding for U.S. universities to acquire research equipment and instrumentation in areas important to national defense, including AI and machine learning hardware. The program is administered jointly by the Army Research Office (ARO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), with approximately $34 million available and 95 awards anticipated. DURIP funds the acquisition of specialized computing hardware for AI/ML research (GPU clusters, TPUs, neuromorphic processors), robotics and autonomous systems testbeds, sensor arrays and data collection systems for machine learning training, high-performance computing infrastructure for defense-relevant AI research, and laboratory equipment for human-AI interaction studies. The program specifically supports equipment that enhances research-related education in DoD-priority disciplines. While general-purpose computing is not eligible, computing equipment directly supporting DoD-relevant AI research programs qualifies. No cost sharing is required.
Vinnova, Sweden's national innovation agency, funds projects developing applied AI solutions for Swedish industry through its Advanced Digitalization Programme. Each project can apply for between 2 and 10 million SEK (approximately $190,000 to $950,000 USD) covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. The total call budget is 60 million SEK. Projects run for 12-24 months and focus on two key areas: Intelligent Edge (AI for real-time application in the sensor chain) and AI-based decision support. All projects must address industrial needs and integrate gender equality and climate change perspectives. Scientific publications must be open access. A parallel call also funds AI and cybersecurity projects at 1-10 million SEK per project with a 50 million SEK total budget.
The administration is investing $1 billion in regenerative agriculture while proposing $4.9 billion in USDA cuts. Farmers and ag researchers face a funding landscape where priorities are shifting faster than programs can adapt.
Read articleOn March 4, HHS, USDA, and EPA announced $1B in farm modernization investments. On April 3, the FY2027 budget proposed slashing USDA by 19%. What the contradiction means for agricultural researchers, land-grant universities, and rural communities.
Read articleThe USDA Regenerative Pilot Program offers $700M through EQIP and CSP with a single application process. A deep analysis of eligibility, practices, and strategy for farmers at every level.
Read article