Get Help With Your Organic Certification Costs and Your Organic Transition

The USDA/FSA has announced the opening of both the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) and the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP). The long-standing OCCSP provides financial assistance to certified organic operations. New just last year, OTECP provides financial assistance to both certified operations and operations transitioning to organic. Both programs are federally funded.

OCCSP provides 50% up to $500.00 to certified operations for certification costs paid for each category or “scope” of certification (scopes are crop, livestock, wild crop, handling).

OTECP provides an additional rebate for both organic certification costs and new rebates for transitional costs, educational costs, and soil testing. Here's a summary of OTECP:

If applying for both OCCSP and OTECP, a certified operation can expect 75% up to $750.00 in a combined cost share rebate, plus potential additional rebates.

Through OTECP, a transitional operation can expect 75% up to $750.00 for transitional expenses plus potential additional rebates.

How to apply:

Apply through your county FSA office - FSA County Office Locator. States may also offer OCCSP, but will not offer OTECP. Typically state programs open later in the season and the application process and deadlines vary. States most recently offering Cost Share have included California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. To find out whether your state will be participating in this year's Cost Share, contact your state department of agriculture or check the USDA/FSA Cost Share Website.

USDA/FSA Cost Share Application Deadline:

OCCSP: October 31, 2022

OTECP: October 31, 2022

State application deadlines vary and can be as early as September 30.

How does MOSA help? MOSA provides payment documentation and verifies organic certification status. We're happy to answer your questions about cost share. We work cooperatively with the FSA and state offices. MOSA does not complete, accept, or process cost share applications.

Questions? Contact your local FSA office, your state agricultural department, or call MOSA toll-free at 844-637-2526.

Reduce the cost of your organic certification with the USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program

USDA provides organic certification cost share opportunities for organic producers and handlers. Beginning March 20, 2017, organic producers and handlers can visit over 2,100 USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices to apply for federal reimbursement to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP).

Certified producers and handlers are eligible to receive reimbursement for up to 50 percent of certification costs each year, up to a maximum of $500 per certification scope, including crops, livestock, wild crops, handling and state organic program fees.

You may also apply through participating State agencies (Listed Below).