AMS 172-08

Joan Shaffer (202) 720-8998

joan.shaffer@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that $22 million in federal funds are available for organic certification cost assistance. The funds are available for producers and handlers of organic agricultural products in any state of the United States of America, its territories, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (hereinafter called states).

The National Organic Certification Cost–Share Program, authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 6523), will allocate funds in proportion to the number of organic producers and handlers within each state. The states in turn, will reimburse each eligible producer or handler up to 75 percent of its organic certification costs, not to exceed $750.

To be eligible for reimbursement, an organic production or handling operation must be located within a qualified state, comply with the USDA National Organic Program regulations for organic production or handling and have received certification or continuation of certification by a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

Applications by states for federal assistance and cooperative agreements must be requested from and submitted to: Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA Stop 0268, Room 4008-S, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington DC 20250-0264; tel. (202) 720-3252; fax (202) 205-7808.

Additional information is available on the National Organic Program’s home page: www.ams.usda.gov/nop.