FACT SHEET - DECEMBER 2021

ORGANIC AND TRANSITIONAL EDUCATION 

AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (OTECP)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic and Transitional 

Education and Certification Program (OTECP) is administered by the 

Farm Service Agency (FSA). Producers and handlers incur significant 

costs to obtain or renew USDA organic certification each year, 

and the economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic have 

made obtaining and renewing USDA organic certification financially 

challenging for many operations.

Who is Eligible?

Certified organic producers and handlers and crop and livestock 

producers transitioning to organic who have paid eligible expenses 

during the 2020, 2021, and/or 2022 fiscal year may apply for 

reimbursement of the incurred expenses.

FISCAL 

YEAR

COVERED EXPENSES 

COVERED FROM

APPLICATION 

DEADLINE

2020 October 1, 2019 through 

September 30, 2020 February 4, 2022

2021 October 1, 2020 through 

September 30, 2021 February 4, 2022

2022 October 1, 2021 through 

September 30, 2022

Announced at a later 

date

*OTECP payments will be issued after the applicable application deadline. If calculated 

payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated.

Is Organic Certification 

Required to Participate?

No. Crop and livestock producers that 

are in the process of transitioning to 

organic will be eligible to apply for cost 

share on transitional expenses, soil 

testing, and education.

However, organic certification will be 

required to be eligible for cost share 

for the crop, livestock, wild crop, 

handling, and State organic program 

fees categories. Certification must 

be provided by a USDA-accredited 

certifying agent. If your operation is 

not currently certified organic and 

you would like to learn more about 

the certification process, please visit 

fsa.usda.gov/organic.
ORGANIC AND TRANSITIONAL EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM 2

What Expenses are Reimbursable?

Certified organic operations may receive reimbursement for certification 

application fees, inspection expenses, fees related to equivalency agreement/

arrangement requirements, travel/per diem for inspectors, user fees, certifier 

sales assessments, and postage, as well as soil testing and educational event 

registration fees.

Transitional operations may receive reimbursement for fees charged by a 

certifying agent or consultant for pre-certification inspections and development 

of an organic system plan, soil testing, and educational event registration fees.

What Expenses are Not Reimbursable?

Ineligible expenses include inspections necessary to address National 

Organic Program regulatory violations, expenses related to non-USDA organic 

certifications, expenses related to any other labeling program, expenses related 

to materials/supplies/equipment, late fees, membership fees, consultant fees 

(except as described above for transitional operations), expenses related to 

educational event attendance other than registration fees, and expenses for 

tests other than soil testing.

What is the Maximum Reimbursement Amount?

ELIGIBLE 

APPLICANTS

CATEGORY OF ELIGIBLE 

EXPENSES 

PAYMENT AMOUNT 

OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES 

PER CATEGORY

Certified 

operations

Organic certification – crops 25 percent, up to $250

Organic certification – livestock 25 percent, up to $250

Organic certification – wild crop 25 percent, up to $250

Organic certification – handling 25 percent, up to $250

State Organic Program fees 25 percent, up to $250

Transitional 

operations Eligible transitional expenses 75 percent, up to $750

Certified 

operations and 

transitional 

operations

Educational event 

registration fees 75 percent, up to $200

Soil testing 75 percent, up to $100

How Do I Apply for a Reimbursement?

You may apply directly to one of over 2,100 FSA offices. Applicants must submit 

an FSA-883, Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program form, 

and certify to eligible expenses, which may be subject to spot check.

More Information

This fact sheet is for informational purposes only; other eligibility requirements 

may apply. For more information, visit farmers.gov/otecp or contact your 

local FSA office.

To find your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.