National Organic Organizations Pressure FSA to Act on Cost Share

June 5, 2020

Richard Fordyce

Administrator
Farm Service Agency
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.

Dear Administrator Fordyce:

Like other farmers and food businesses, organic farmers and businesses are also struggling economically as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As you work to implement the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, we know that Farm Service Agency (FSA) personnel are stretched very thin in their efforts to respond to the pandemic. However, we are very concerned about the delay in FSA’s publication of the notice of funds availability (NOFA) for the two organic certification cost share programs for fiscal year 2020, one of agency’s core assistance programs for organic operations.

Funding for OCCSP is provided through two authorizations: (1) National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (National OCCSP) funds and (2) Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) funds. Section 10105 of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill, Pub. L. 115–334) amended section 10606(d) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 6523(d)), to authorize $2 million from CCC to be used for National OCCSP funds 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. In addition, carryover federal funding from previous fiscal years was set aside to be used to fund OCCSP activities in 2019 and later years, until fully expended.

Last year, the FSA NOFA for the two Organic Certification Cost Share Programs was published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2019 to announce the availability of the OCCSP funding for Fiscal Year 2019.

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/organic-certification-cost-share-program/pdf/occsp_nofa_2019-08624.pdf

Even with that NOFA publication date, the OCCSP funding for fiscal year 2019 was delayed relative to previous years.  As a result, we are very concerned that the significant delay in the FY 2020 NOFA for OCCSP activities will result in further delays in certification cost share reimbursements for certified organic operations who are struggling due to pandemic-related disruptions in their operations.

Therefore, we are requesting that a Notice of Funds Availability for Organic Certification Cost Share Program operations be published immediately.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

National Organic Coalition
National Farmers Union
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Organic Farmers Association
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Organic Trade Association

Join today and support organic farmers!

Organic Farmers Association members support a strong voice for organic farmers in Washington, D.C.


The Organic Farmers Association is the ONLY national organization where solely independent certified organic farms determine its policies and work agenda. OFA was founded on the belief that the voice of farmers like you should carry the most weight in agricultural policy decisions.

In recent years, OFA has made a difference by putting significant pressure on the USDA to finalize the Origin of Livestock Rule to help organic dairies and finalize the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule to stop organic fraud and increase enforcement. We testified and advocated to allow paper pots for small-scale vegetable growers, introduced the ODAIRY Act of 2023, and advocated for stronger animal welfare standards for organic livestock and poultry production (OLPS Rule).

We have proved that farmer voices are stronger when we work together. Join us in this movement by becoming a member today! 

Farm
Membership

U.S. certified organic farmers should select this membership. Only farm members are eligible to vote on Organic Farmers Association policy positions and priorities. International farmers, or farms that are not certified organic, should select the Supporter Membership.

Join now

Supporter Membership

Not a certified organic farmer, but want to support the organic farmers that make our planet and food systems a better place? Supporter members will be connected to the discussions about policies that affect organic farmers, and be called to advocate on their behalf.

Join now

Organization Membership

Organizations that have a significant membership (or stakeholders) of certified organic farmers should select this membership. Organization Members receive the tools they need to advocate for policies important to organic farmers and extend their network.

Join now

PO Box 709
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
202-643-5363
info@OrganicFarmersAssociation.org

About the Organic Farmers Association

In 2016 farmers from across the country came together to launch the Organic Farmers Association (OFA) to unite organic farmers for a better future together. In 2020, OFA gained its 501c5 nonprofit status.  Rodale Institute supports this initiative as fiscal sponsor and partner with OFA’s farmer leadership.

Community

Facebook

LinkedIn

Donate

Farmer HelpLine: (833) 724-3834