CERTIFICATION COST SHARE
Update: On May 14, the House Agriculture Committee passed a budget reconciliation bill that includes funding for Organic Certification Cost Share thru 2031, including 2025. It is still too soon to tell if this part of the bill as written will make it into law, or if Cost Share will be reinstated in time for the 2025 year. We remain hopeful that Cost Share will be reinstated, and encourage you to contact your congress members. Read more about the budget reconciliation bill here on the National Organic Coalition website.
An Important Update on the Status of the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
What is Cost Share?
Cost Share is the shortened name for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). This federal program helps organic farms and businesses offset the cost of organic certification by reimbursing a portion of the annual certification fees. Certifying agencies establish their certification fees to cover the cost to complete the annual certification review process.
Why support Cost Share?
The organic certification industry is a significant and continually growing sector of the United States and global economy. MOSA has heard from many of our clients that they greatly appreciate and depend on Cost Share reimbursements to defray the often greater costs of organic production. Not only that, this program ultimately benefits all of us, farmers and consumers alike, by providing support for businesses that protect natural resources and improve the environment we all live in.
How is Cost Share funded?
Cost Share has been funded through the United States Farm Bill. Congress must pass a new farm bill every 5 years, and the 2018 Farm Bill term ended on September 30, 2023. When a new Farm Bill is not passed, congress grants extensions for programs from the most recent Farm Bill. The 1-year extension spanning October 2023 to September 2024 included funding for Cost Share. The next 1-year extension for October 2024 to September 2025 does not.
Will there be Cost Share funding in 2025?
At writing, the 2024-2025 Farm Bill extension does not include funding for Organic Cost Share. It is uncertain if funding will be restored for the 2025 program year.
Is there hope to bring back Cost Share?
Yes! OCCSP has had bipartisan support in congress since the 2002 Farm Bill. We believe there is hope to get this important program reinstated.
What can be done? Contact your representatives. MOSA has sent a letter of support for Cost Share and other programs that benefit your organic businesses to all congresspeople elected in our home state of Wisconsin. If your business benefits from Cost Share, we encourage you to do the same. Contact your senators and representatives in congress. Tell your story. Communicate with them more than once. Your experiences and perspectives are important, and your elected officials want to hear your firsthand account about how federal programs support American businesses and the economy. Your input tells them which programs to support.
Find your federal congresspeople:
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at 1-202-224-3121
or visit www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member (QR code below)
You can also get involved with groups that collectively lobby for policies that support organic businesses, such as the Organic Trade Association (OTA), National Organic Coalition (NOC), Organic Farmers Association (OFA) and others.
Additional Resources:
Is there funding available to offset the cost of organic certification?
From 2002 to 2024, the Farm Bill has included funding to offset the cost of organic certification by reimbursing a portion of the annual certification fees through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), or Cost Share for short. Congress did not include funding for Cost Share in the 1-year Farm Bill extension for the 2024-2025 program year. We understand that this program has been important for many of the organic businesses we certify. Please contact your federal senators and representatives if you would like to see this funding restored.
