The Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the
National Organic Program. 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 four organic certification scopes are crops, livestock, wild crop, and processor/handler.
Both KDA and USDA FSA county offices accept OCCSP applications and make payments to eligible certified operations. However, a producer or handler may only receive OCCSP assistance from either KDA or USDA FSA.
What is the reimbursement amount available to a certified operation?
A certified operation may be reimbursed for up to 75% of their allowable certification costs, not to exceed $750 per certification.
What costs are reimbursable?
Eligible costs include costs include application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement/arrangement requirements, travel/per diem for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.
What costs are not reimbursable?
Ineligible costs include equipment, materials, supplies, transitional certification fees, late fees and inspections necessary to address National Organic Program regulatory violations.
What is the maximum reimbursement amount available to a certified operation?
The maximum reimbursement is $750 per certification scope. An operation may be certified under more than one certification scope. Since there are four possible certification scopes in Kansas, the maximum reimbursement amount is $3,000.