USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
Up to $750 per certificate
Get reimbursed for your organic certification costs
Reimbursement of up to 75% of organic certification costs for certified organic farmers and handlers, up to $750 per certificate scope per year. Simple, low-paperwork program — apply through your State Department of Agriculture after you pay your organic certification fees. No competition, no scoring; any certified organic producer qualifies. Effectively a partial refund on your annual certification bill. Note: OCCSP was defunded in early 2025 (excluded from the Farm Bill extension), but was restored July 4, 2025 via H.R.1 (the reconciliation bill) at $8M per year through FY2029.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $50 – $750
- Realistic amount
- Most OCCSP recipients receive $200–$750 per year. Farms with multiple certification scopes (crops, livestock, wild crops…
- Deadline
- Annual — State Departments of Agriculture administer OCCSP with their own application windows, typically October–January following the certification year. Contact your state ag department for your state's current deadline.
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Must be a certified organic producer (farmer/rancher/wildcrafter) or handler (processor, distributor) who holds a valid USDA-accredited certifier certificate
- Must have paid organic certification fees to an accredited certifying agent for the relevant certification year
- Applies to: organic crop producers, organic livestock producers, organic handlers (processors, distributors), and wild crop harvesters
- Must apply through the State Department of Agriculture in the state where your operation is located (or directly through USDA AMS if your state doesn't participate)
- Application must be made for certification fees actually paid — not pre-application estimates
- No minimum farm size or revenue requirement
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Annual certification fees paid to USDA-accredited certifying agents for organic crop certification
- Annual certification fees for organic livestock certification
- Annual certification fees for organic handler (processor/distributor) certification
- Annual certification fees for wild crop harvesting certification
- Application fees for initial organic certification (in the first year)
Ineligible expenses
- Costs incurred before certification fees were actually paid
- Fees for non-USDA-accredited certification programs
- Transition planning costs (OCCSP covers only certified operations, not transition to organic)
- Training or consulting costs unrelated to the certification fee itself
- Late fees or penalties charged by certifiers
How to apply
-
1
Pay your annual organic certification fee
Pay your certifying agent's annual certification fee as normal. Keep all receipts and documentation from your certifier showing the fee amount, certificate date, and scope of certification. OCCSP reimburses actual paid fees — save your payment confirmation.
~1 hrs
-
2
Obtain your certificate from the certifier
Ensure you have a copy of your current organic certificate from your USDA-accredited certifying agency. The certificate must show your name, operation, scope (crops/livestock/handling/wild crops), and certificate dates.
~1 hrs
-
3
Contact your State Department of Agriculture
Find your state's OCCSP contact via ams.usda.gov/occsp or your state ag department website. Each state has its own application form and submission instructions. Some states have online portals; others use paper forms. Ask about the state's current application window.
~1 hrs
-
4
Submit application with proof of payment
Complete the state's OCCSP application form. Attach: your current organic certificate, proof of payment for certification fees (receipt, cancelled check, or certifier invoice with payment notation), and any other state-required documentation. Submit by the state's deadline.
~1 hrs
-
5
Receive reimbursement
State processes payment and issues a check or direct deposit. Most states process payments within 60–90 days of application. If your state doesn't participate, apply through USDA AMS directly (ams.usda.gov/occsp — same process, longer processing).
~1 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 111110, 111120, 111130, 111219, 111310, 111411, 111419, 112111, 112210, 311
If you're certified in multiple scopes (crops AND livestock, or production AND handling), you can receive up to $750 per scope — file for each separately to maximize reimbursement.
Deadline & timing
OCCSP is administered by State Departments of Agriculture with state-specific deadlines. Most states accept applications from October through January for the preceding certification year. If your state does not participate, USDA AMS directly administers OCCSP — contact ams.usda.gov/occsp. Important funding history: OCCSP was defunded in early 2025 but restored July 4, 2025 via H.R.1 at $8M/yr through FY2029. FY2025 application windows may be delayed — confirm current status with your state ag department.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.