REPORT TO CONGRESS 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 

NATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE 

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST SHARE PROGRAMS 

I. BACKGROUND 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers two organic certification cost share programs 

collectively referred to as the Organic Certification Cost Share Programs (OCCSP): (1) the National 

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (National), and (2) the Agricultural Management Assistance 

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (AMA). 

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides the cost share assistance through two approaches: (1) by 

establishing grant agreements with State agencies that provide cost share payments to producers and 

handlers in their state; and (2) by issuing payments directly to producers and handlers who apply for cost 

share payments at one of FSA’s 2,156 county offices. Applicants may apply with either the State agency 

or FSA in States where a State agency participates in OCCSP. However, applicants may not apply 

through both the State agency and FSA. 

OCCSP is administered according to the Notices of Funds Availability published on April 29, 2019 

(84 FR 17997-17999), and August 10, 2020 (85 FR 48149-48150).1 In 2022, FSA announced the 

availability of National and AMA funds through a variety of communication channels, such as 

telephone calls and emails to State contacts, outreach materials, and informational postings to 

Grants.gov and through the FSA Web site: 

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/occsp/index. 

To be eligible for OCCSP, applicants must receive an initial certification or continuation of 

certification from a USDA-accredited certifying agent, in accordance with the USDA organic 

regulations. Due to unexpected participation levels and the limited funds available, FSA revised the 

reimbursement amount available for fiscal years 2020 through 2022.2 The 2022 reimbursement 

amount was 50 percent of certification costs, with a maximum of $500 per certification category: 

crops, livestock, wild crops, processing/handling, and State Organic Program fees.

3

 Operations that 

1 The Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22) authorized an additional $8 million 

in National OCCSP funding for fiscal year 2024. FSA intends to announce the availability of OCCSP for the 2024 program 

year in a forthcoming Notice of Funds Availability. 2 FSA also administered the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) for fiscal years 2020, 

2021, and 2022 (86 FR 61113-61116). OTECP used funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 

Act (CARES Act; Division B, Title I, Pub. L. 116-136) to cover 25 percent of a certified operation's eligible certification 

costs, up to $250 per certification category (crop, livestock, wild crop, handling, and State Organic Program fees). It also 

covered the following expenses not included in OCCSP: soil testing, registration fees for educational events, and fees charged 

by a certifying agent or consultant for pre-certification inspections and development of an organic system plan for transitional 

crop and livestock operations. 

On May 10, 2023, FSA announced that funding is available to increase the OCCSP reimbursement amount for fiscal 

year 2023 to 75 percent of eligible certification costs, up to $750 per scope, which is the maximum payment amount 

authorized by statute. (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/news-releases/2023/usda-announces-new-steps-to-enhanceorganic-markets-and-support-producers) 3 State Organic Program fee was added as an eligible category in 2017. It applies only to producers in a State with a 

recognized State Organic Program under the National Organic Program regulations. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

were certified in more than one category were eligible for a maximum reimbursement of $500 per 

certification category, not to exceed 50 percent of total certification costs. This change allowed a 

larger number of certified organic operations to receive assistance. The changes to the payment 

calculation and maximum payment amount were applicable to all certified organic operations, 

regardless of whether they applied through an FSA county office or a participating State agency. 

A. National OCCSP 

The National OCCSP is authorized under Section 10606 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 

of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 6523), as amended by Section 10004(c) of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm 

Bill; Pub. L. 113–79), and Section 10105 of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm 

Bill; Pub. L. 115-334), which reauthorized the National OCCSP and provided “no year” funding, 

available to certified organic producers and handlers in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and five 

U.S. Territories (hereafter referred to as “States”).4 Twenty-six State agencies chose not to participate 

in FY 2022; however, certified operations in all states could participate through FSA county offices. 

State agencies that did not participate are American Samoa, Colorado, Delaware, the District of 

Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, 

Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South 

Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Funds obligated through 

grant agreements that are not used are returned to FSA and available for later years. 

B. The AMA OCCSP 

The AMA OCCSP is authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA), as amended 

(7 U.S.C. 1524(b)). Under this authority, Congress provided authority for USDA to annually provide 

organic certification cost share assistance to certified organic producers operating in 16 specifically 

named States: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New 

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and 

Wyoming. State agencies in Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Nevada, Utah, West Virginia, and 

Wyoming chose not to participate, citing inadequate resources to manage the program or a decision to 

let FSA administer all OCCSP payments in that State. To prevent duplicate assistance payments, 

producers participating in the AMA OCCSP are not eligible to participate in the producer portion of the 

National OCCSP. Unused funds are returned to the Treasury because AMA OCCSP funds are annual 

funds. 

II. FISCAL YEAR 2022 

A. National Participation 

Under the 2022 National OCCSP, $7,544,0005 was available under the 2018 Farm Bill, and $3,933,424 

in unobligated funding was available from prior years. FSA allocated $4,321,850 to the 30 State 

4 The 2018 Farm Bill authorized $2 million from CCC to be used for National OCCSP for each of FYs 2019 and 2020, 

$4 million for FY 2021, and $8 million for each of FYs 2022 and 2023, to remain available until expended. The Further 

Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 authorized an additional $8 million in National OCCSP funding 

for fiscal year 2024. Funding for FY 2025 and later years is not authorized at this time. 

5 The 2018 Farm Bill authorized $8,000,000 in National OCCSP funding for fiscal year 2022, which was sequestered at 5.7% 

for a total apportionment of $7,544,000. 

2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agencies that signed grant agreements. These State agencies subsequently disbursed $3,325,078 in cost 

share assistance to 5,403 qualifying organic operations. Funds apportioned for FY 2022 that were not 

allocated to State agencies were available to provide payments directly to certified operations through 

FSA county offices. Under the 2022 National OCCSP, FSA county offices have disbursed $2,012,987 

to 4,830 certified operations. Any remaining National OCCSP funds that were not spent by State 

agencies or FSA remain available for future fiscal years. 

The Appendix to this report provides State-by-State data on the funds allocated and disbursed by 

participating State agencies and FSA county offices. Disbursements vary by the number of requests for 

reimbursement submitted by organic operations. 

B. AMA Participation 

Under the 2022 AMA OCCSP, $943,0006 was apportioned for 16 States authorized to receive funds by 

the legislation. FSA allocated $836,750 to the 9 States that signed agreements with FSA to participate. 

The participating State agencies subsequently disbursed $625,649 in cost share assistance to 1,244 

qualifying organic operations. 

The Appendix to this report provides State-by-State data on the funds allocated and disbursed by 

participating State agencies and FSA county offices. 

6 In fiscal year 2022, AMA OCCSP was authorized $1,000,000 and then sequestered at 5.7% for a total apportionment of 

$943,000. 

3 
 

 

 

 

 

 

III. APPENDIX 

National Organic Certification Cost Share Program FY 2022 Allocation and Disbursement 

State 

State Agency Funding and 

Disbursements Funds 

Disbursed by

FSA County

Offices 

Number of 

Operations

Assisted by 

State 

Agencies 

Number of 

Operations

Assisted by

FSA County

FY 2022Allocation Offices 1 

FY 2022 Funds 

Disbursed2 

Alabama $2,000 $2,000 $3,602 1 9 

Alaska $6,550 $4,314 $0 9 0 

American Samoa N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Arizona $41,350 $33,460 $4,500 62 9 

Arkansas $3,400 $1,962 $4,945 6 13 

California $1,437,800 $1,352,872 $39,037 1,889 99 

Colorado N/A N/A $90,218 0 190 

Connecticut $14,450 $9,725 $6,250 22 19 

Delaware N/A N/A $2,000 0 4 

Dist. of Columbia N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Florida $29,500 $29,019 $14,608 53 33 

Georgia N/A N/A $34,065 0 74 

Guam N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Hawaii N/A N/A $41,569 0 100 

Idaho N/A N/A $70,336 0 161 

Illinois N/A N/A $120,124 0 260 

Indiana N/A N/A $188,886 0 457 

Iowa N/A N/A $192,857 0 490 

Kansas $22,350 $14,707 $22,333 27 46 

Kentucky $33,700 $18,026 $4,151 82 9 

Louisiana N/A N/A $9,781 0 21 

Maine $144,050 $131,913 $3,023 192 8 

Maryland $22,700 $4,950 $2,085 33 5 

Massachusetts $3,350 $3,250 $36,400 6 104 

Michigan N/A N/A $150,508 0 354 

Minnesota $272,950 $147,750 $75,879 241 175 

Mississippi $3,300 $525 $9,988 1 27 

Missouri $32,950 $8,431 $42,893 15 91 

Montana $98,550 $90,288 $14,903 184 35 

Nebraska N/A N/A $62,191 0 135 

Nevada N/A N/A $18,865 0 42 

New Hampshire N/A N/A $13,583 0 65 

New Jersey $32,300 $32,300 $11,364 60 27 

New Mexico N/A N/A $11,473 0 25 

New York $183,250 $66,695 $171,587 156 498 

North Carolina $105,800 $77,839 $25,871 139 56 

North Dakota $70,800 $55,101 $2,765 103 6 

N. Mariana Islands N/A NA $0 0 0 

Ohio $228,700 $99,884 $56,840 170 134 

Oklahoma N/A N/A $7,884 0 24 

Oregon $109,250 $94,647 $73,052 168 170 

Pennsylvania $143,900 $143,900 $46,763 274 116 

4 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State 

State Agency Funding and 

Disbursements Funds 

Disbursed by

FSA County

Offices 

Number of 

Operations

Assisted by 

State 

Agencies 

Number of 

Operations

Assisted by

FSA County

FY 2022Allocation Offices 1 

FY 2022 Funds 

Disbursed2 

Puerto Rico N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Rhode Island $5,400 $2,255 $875 5 4 

South Carolina $8,900 $6,428 $2,375 20 13 

South Dakota N/A N/A $35,859 0 93 

Tennessee N/A N/A $9,457 0 21 

Texas $25,150 $19,155 $44,819 39 94 

U.S. Virgin N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Utah N/A N/A $11,402 0 25 

Vermont $216,850 $187,981 $20,154 323 47 

Virginia $20,600 $11,071 $63,601 18 137 

Washington $416,000 $259,036 $28,777 489 64 

West Virginia N/A N/A $6,458 0 17 

Wisconsin $586,000 $415,594 $85,050 616 185 

Wyoming N/A N/A $16,981 0 39 

Total $4,321,850 $3,325,078 $2,012,987 5,403 4,830 

1 Amount FSA authorized the State agency to use for reimbursement to certified organic operations plus indirect costs, if applicable, to cover 

State agencies’ administrative expenses. N/A represents non-participation by the State agency. 2 Funds paid by the State agency to reimburse certified organic operators plus indirect costs, if applicable, to cover State agencies’ 

administrative expenses. 

5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMA Organic Certification Cost Share Program FY 2022 Allocation and Disbursement 

State 

State Agency Funding and

Disbursements Funds 

Disbursed by 

FSA County

Offices3 

Number of 

Operations

Assisted by 

State Agencies 

Number of 

Operations 

Assisted by

County Offices3 

FY 2022 

Allocation1 

FY 2022 Funds 

Disbursed2 

Connecticut $26,100 $12,938 $0 27 0 

Delaware N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Hawaii N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Maine $177,400 $132,030 $0 267 0 

Maryland $32,600 $13,970 $0 50 0 

Massachusetts $30,500 $8,600 $0 18 0 

Nevada N/A N/A $0 0 0 

New Hampshire N/A N/A $0 0 0 

New Jersey $16,100 $13,010 $0 29 0 

New York $244,150 $195,910 $0 387 0 

Pennsylvania $107,800 $49,696 $0 85 0 

Rhode Island $6,400 $3,795 $0 21 0 

Utah N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Vermont $195,700 $195,700 $0 360 0 

West Virginia N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Wyoming N/A N/A $0 0 0 

Total $836,750 $625,649 $0 1,244 0 

1 Amount FSA authorized the State agency to use for reimbursement to certified organic operations plus indirect costs, if applicable, to cover 

State agencies’ administrative expenses. N/A represents non-participation by the State agency. 

2 Funds paid by the State agency to reimburse certified organic operators plus indirect costs, if applicable, to cover State agencies 

administrative expenses. 

3 AMA funds were used to fund grant agreements with the State agency and were not paid through FSA. 

6