Organic Certification Cost Share Program
Organic Certification Cost Share Program helps organic producers and handlers cover the costs of obtaining or renewing USDA organic certification, supporting new certification and its maintenance.
Funder: Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets
Due Dates: December 31, 2026 (2025 and 2026 program years)
Funding Amounts: Up to 75% of eligible certification costs, capped at $750 per certification scope per program year
Summary: Reimburses organic producers and handlers for direct costs of obtaining or renewing USDA organic certification.
Key Information: Vermont directs applicants to local FSA offices because state agencies have not received USDA administration funding.
Description
The Organic Certification Cost Share Program helps organic producers and handlers offset the direct expense of becoming newly certified or maintaining certification under USDA’s National Organic Program. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets offers this assistance through USDA. Certification scopes include crops, livestock, wild crops, and processing/handling, with reimbursement tied to eligible certification expenses rather than agricultural equipment or production supplies.
The program supports application and inspection fees, inspectors’ travel and per diem, and other eligible USDA organic certification charges. It also covers certification fees needed to access international markets where USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has equivalency agreements or arrangements. For the 2025 and 2026 program years, Vermont is directing applicants to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for reimbursement because funding for state administration has been delayed.
