Eagle Times Staff

MONTPELIER, Vermont — The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) announced that the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has awarded the State of Vermont $577,325 through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Certified operations can now apply for these funds.

“The Organic Certification Cost Share Program provides valuable funds to help offset the certification costs that burden Vermont’s vibrant organic agriculture sector each year,” said Anson Tebbetts, Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture.

Certified organic operations can be reimbursed for up to 75% of their direct certification costs paid between October 1 and September 30 annually, but not more than $750 per certification scope. There are up to four permitted certification scopes (crops, livestock, wild and processing) that must be individually audited for organic certification to be eligible for reimbursement.

Reimbursable costs include application fees, inspection fees (including travel and per diem expenses for organic inspectors), USDA organic certification costs, user fees/sales duties, and postage.

Funding will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, with applications closing on October 31, 2024. For more information and to apply, visit tinyurl.com/2ezs8272.