RALEIGH – Organic growers in North Carolina can apply for partial reimbursement of the cost of becoming certified or for re-certification through a program offered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Growers who are certified or re-certified between Oct. 1, 2014, and Sept. 30, 2015, can apply for assistance through the program. The program will pay 75 percent of the cost of certification up to a total of $750.
Under the grant, operations can be certified and reimbursed in four separate categories: crops, livestock, wild crop and handler/processor.
The program is for the 2014-2015 season and is funded through a $212,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 1.
“We have had great participation in the past with this program, and I encourage organic growers to get their applications in early as the funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
To apply, growers must provide a completed application, along with detailed invoices/statements from the certifying agency listing all National Organic Program certified costs, proof of payment, an IRS W-9 form and a copy of your certificate or letter from your certifier if this is a new certification. All charges must be for USDA organic certification. The application can be downloaded at www.ncdaorganic.org.
Mail the application and required documents to the NCDA&CS Organic Certification Cost Share Program, Attn. Heather Barnes, at 1020 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1020. For questions, contact Barnes at 919- 707-3127.
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