[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50767-50768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23647]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-09-0057; TM-09-05]


Notice of Agricultural Management Assistance Organic 
Certification Cost-Share Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of funds availability. Inviting applications for the 
Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost-Share 
Program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice invites the following eligible States: 
Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, 
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, 
Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, to submit an Application for 
Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424), and to enter into a Cooperative 
Agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for the 
Allocation of Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds. The AMS has 
allocated $1.5 million for this organic certification cost-share 
program in Fiscal Year 2009. Funds are available under this program to 
16 designated States to provide cost-share assistance to organic crop 
and livestock producers certified under the National Organic Program 
(NOP). Eligible States interested in obtaining cost-share funds for 
their organic producers will have to submit an Application for Federal 
Assistance, and enter into a cooperative agreement with AMS for 
allocation of funds.

DATES: Completed applications for federal assistance along with signed 
cooperative agreements must be received by close of business, October 
23, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Applications for Federal assistance and cooperative 
agreements shall be submitted to: Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing 
Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TMP/NOP, Room 4004-
South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0264; Telephone: (202) 720-3252. Additional information can be 
found under ``Organic Cost Share Program'' on the National Organic 
Program's homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing 
Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TM/NOP, Room 4004-South, 
Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0268; 
Telephone: (202) 720-3252.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Organic Certification Cost-Share 
Program is part of the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program 
authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA), as amended, (7 
U.S.C. 1524). Under the applicable FCIA provisions, the Department is 
authorized to provide cost-share assistance to organic producers in the 
States of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. 
The AMS has allocated $1.5 million for this organic certification cost-
share program in Fiscal Year 2009. This organic certification cost-
share program provides financial assistance to organic producers 
certified to the NOP authorized under the Organic Foods Production Act 
of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.). This program is in 
addition to and separate from the National Organic Certification Cost-
Share Program which is also administered by AMS and is open to all 
States and U.S. Territories.
    To participate in the program, eligible States, through their State 
Department of Agriculture, must complete an Application for Federal 
Assistance (Standard Form 424) and enter into a written cooperative 
agreement with AMS. State Department of Agriculture refers to agencies, 
commissions, or departments of State government responsible for 
implementing regulation, policy or programs on agriculture within their 
State. The program will provide cost-share

[[Page 50768]]

assistance, through participating States, to organic crop and livestock 
producers receiving certification or continuation of certification by a 
USDA accredited certifying agent commencing October 1, 2009, through 
September 30, 2010. The Department has determined that payments will be 
limited to 75 percent of an individual producer's certification costs 
up to a maximum of $750.00.
    To receive cost-share assistance, organic producers must submit an 
application to the representative Agency of the State in which their 
farm/operation is located. This application must include: (1) Proof of 
NOP certification issued or continued within the cost-share qualifying 
period, October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010, and; (2) an 
itemized invoice demonstrating costs incurred for NOP certification. 
Costs incurred for non-certification activities, such as, membership 
associations or farm/operation inputs are not eligible for assistance 
through this program. Assistance provided to eligible producers under 
this cost-share program is included under the Agricultural Management 
Assistance (AMA) Program. Total amount of cost-share payments provided 
to any eligible producer under all AMA programs cannot exceed $50,000.
    How To Submit Applications: To receive fund allocations to provide 
cost-share assistance, a State Department of Agriculture must complete 
an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424), and enter 
into a written cooperative agreement with AMS. State Agencies 
submitting hard copy applications should submit a signed copy of 
Standard Form 424 and a signed copy of the cooperative agreement to AMS 
at the address listed above. The Standard Form 424 and the cooperative 
agreement must have the original signature of the official who has 
authority to apply for Federal assistance. Hard copy applications 
should be sent only via express mail or courier service and must be 
received at the above address by October 23, 2009.
    AMS encourages interested States to submit the Application for 
Federal Assistance, (Standard Form 424) electronically via Grants.gov, 
the Federal grants Web site, http://www.grants.gov. Applications 
submitted electronically via Grants.gov must be filed by October 23, 
2009. A hardcopy of Standard Form 424 bearing an original signature is 
not required when applying through http://www.grants.gov. However, the 
cooperative agreement must have the original signature of the official 
who has authority to apply for Federal assistance. The signed 
cooperative agreement must be sent by express mail or courier service 
and received at the above address by October 23, 2009. States 
considering submitting electronic application forms should become 
familiar with the Grants.Gov website and begin the application process 
well in advance of the application deadline. For information on how to 
apply electronically, please consult http://www.grants.gov/GetRegistered.
    The AMA Organic Certification Cost-Share Program is listed in the 
``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance'' under number 10.163 and 
subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964, which bars discrimination in all Federally assisted programs. 
Additional information on the AMA Organic Certification Cost-Share 
Program can be found under ``Organic Cost Share Program'' on the NOP's 
homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 1524.

    Dated: September 25, 2009.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E9-23647 Filed 9-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P