Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)

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 is 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).

Organic Certification Cost Share Fact Sheet Organic Certification Cost Share Fact Sheet (Spanish)

• 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 (April 29, 2019)
• View the 2020 Notice of Funds Availability (August 10, 2020)

For more information on organic certification and regulations, visit the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s organic website.

Applying for OCCSP

Producers and handlers interested in applying for OCCSP through FSA should contact their local USDA 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 is accepting applications from state departments of agriculture to administer OCCSP. FSA posted a funding opportunity summary on grants.gov and will electronically mail the Notice of Funding Opportunity to all eligible state departments of agriculture. Applications from state departments are due July 12, 2024. 

If a state department of agriculture chooses 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. 

However, the producer or handler may only receive OCCSP assistance from either FSA or the participating state department of agriculture.

• Application Form
• Instructions for Application Form

OCCSP Success Stories

• USDA’s Farm Service Agency Offers Organic Certification Cost-Share Program (Video)
• Iowa Organic Farm Grows Non-Traditional Opportunities for New Farmers

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OCCSP 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

View the annual reports:

• FY 2022
• FY 2021
• FY 2020
• FY 2019
• FY 2018
• FY 2017
• FY 2016
• FY 2015
• FY 2014
• FY 2013
• FY 2012
• FY 2011
• FY 2010