Organic Certification Cost Share Program

The NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services has released information on the organic certification cost share program:

"This program is designed to assist the organic grower with the cost of becoming certified under the National Organic Program. For a farm to be eligible for this program it must be located within the state of North Carolina and must be certified by a business or organization that is accredited by the USDA to certify organic operations The NCDA & CS will pay 75% of the cost of certification up to a maximum of $750 to the certifying agency for any certification occurring between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009. Funding for this program comes from a USDA grant to the NCDA & CS. The assistance is available on a first come first serve basis until the funds are depleted."

For more information, contact Kevin Hardison at NCDA&CS at Kevin.Hardison@ncmail.net.

If you would like more information or a copy of the NC Organic Cost Share Program Authorization Form please contact me: sue_colucci@ncsu.edu

Visit the NCDA&CS Organic Horticultural Crops Marketing Division site to learn more about organic production in NC.