Opportunity Information: Apply for AMS TM 09 0056
Apply for AMS TM 09 0056
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Organic Certification Cost Share Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.163 Market Protection and Promotion.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 22, 2009 and posted on Oct 22, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 1, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 53 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
- State Departments of Agriculture
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program is a federal funding opportunity run by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to help organic producers and handlers offset the out-of-pocket costs of obtaining and maintaining USDA organic certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). AMS is making a total of $4.6 million available, but the money is not paid directly to individual farms or businesses by USDA. Instead, AMS allocates funds to State Departments of Agriculture (or equivalent state agencies/commissions/departments) across the 50 states, U.S. territories, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Those state agencies then administer the cost share program locally and reimburse eligible certified operations for a portion of their certification expenses.
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 10.163 (Market Protection and Promotion). The underlying authority for the NOP comes from the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), and the cost share funding is authorized through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). AMS anticipated making awards to roughly 53 recipients, reflecting participation by most states and eligible jurisdictions. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for the state applicants to receive these federal funds.
For state agencies, the key deadline in this particular announcement was November 1, 2009, by which applications for federal assistance had to be submitted to the National Organic Program. The funding supported reimbursements tied to certification actions occurring within a defined qualifying period: organic certification or continuation of certification by a USDA-accredited certifying agent commencing October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010. In practical terms, this means the reimbursable expenses had to be associated with certification that was issued or renewed during that window.
For individual organic producers and handlers, the benefit is straightforward but capped. Reimbursements are limited to 75 percent of an operation's eligible certification costs, up to a maximum payment of $750 per year per producer or handler. To request reimbursement, producers and handlers do not apply to AMS directly; they must contact and apply through their local State Department of Agriculture (the administering state agency in the state where the farm or operation is located). The application package must include proof that NOP certification was issued or continued within the qualifying period and an itemized invoice showing the certification-related costs incurred. The state agency reviews these materials and, if the applicant is eligible and funds are available, issues the cost share payment according to program rules.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted October 22, 2009 (Funding Opportunity Number AMS-TM-09-0056) and archived December 1, 2009. Additional details and official terms were referenced through a Federal Register notice and related national cost share program information. The listed program contact for questions was Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, at (202) 720-3252.
National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (USDA AMS) - FAQs
What is the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program?
The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program is a federal funding opportunity run by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) that helps organic producers and handlers offset certain out-of-pocket costs of obtaining and maintaining USDA organic certification under the National Organic Program (NOP).
Who runs and funds this program?
The program is administered at the federal level by USDA AMS. AMS makes federal funds available to State Departments of Agriculture (or equivalent state agencies/commissions/departments), which then administer the program locally and reimburse eligible operations.
Does USDA pay cost share funds directly to individual farms or businesses?
No. AMS does not pay individuals directly. AMS allocates funds to eligible state agencies across the 50 states, U.S. territories, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and those state agencies issue reimbursements to eligible certified operations.
Who is eligible to receive reimbursements (at the operation level)?
Eligible recipients are organic producers and handlers that have USDA organic certification issued or continued by a USDA-accredited certifying agent within the qualifying period specified in this announcement.
What kinds of expenses can be reimbursed?
The reimbursement is for eligible certification-related costs associated with obtaining or continuing USDA organic certification under the NOP, as supported by an itemized invoice included in the application package.
How much can an organic producer or handler be reimbursed?
Reimbursements are limited to 75 percent of an operation's eligible certification costs, up to a maximum payment of $750 per year per producer or handler.
Is the reimbursement amount guaranteed?
No. State agencies review applications and issue payments if the applicant is eligible and funds are available, following program rules.
Where does an individual producer or handler apply for reimbursement?
Producers and handlers must contact and apply through their local State Department of Agriculture (or the administering state agency) in the state where the farm or operation is located.
Do producers and handlers submit reimbursement requests to USDA AMS?
No. Reimbursement requests are not submitted to AMS directly. They are submitted to the administering state agency.
What documentation is required to request reimbursement?
The application package must include (1) proof that NOP certification was issued or continued within the qualifying period, and (2) an itemized invoice showing the certification-related costs incurred.
What is the qualifying period for certification actions covered by this announcement?
Reimbursable expenses must be tied to organic certification or continuation of certification by a USDA-accredited certifying agent commencing October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010.
What does "issued or continued within the qualifying period" mean in practical terms?
It means the reimbursable expenses had to be associated with certification that was issued or renewed during the October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010 window.
How is this opportunity structured at the federal level?
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 10.163 (Market Protection and Promotion), with AMS making awards to state agencies that then administer reimbursements locally.
How much funding was available under this announcement?
AMS made a total of $4.6 million available under this funding opportunity announcement.
Who were the intended recipients of AMS awards under this announcement?
AMS anticipated making awards to roughly 53 recipients, reflecting participation by most states and eligible jurisdictions (states, U.S. territories, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) through their agriculture departments or equivalent agencies.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement for state applicants?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for state applicants to receive these federal funds.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.163 (Market Protection and Promotion).
What laws authorize the organic program and the cost share funding?
The National Organic Program (NOP) authority comes from the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.). The cost share funding is authorized through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill).
What was the deadline for state agencies to submit applications for federal assistance?
For state agencies under this particular announcement, applications for federal assistance had to be submitted to the National Organic Program by November 1, 2009.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The opportunity was posted on October 22, 2009 and archived on December 1, 2009.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is AMS-TM-09-0056.
Who is the listed point of contact for questions about this opportunity?
The listed program contact is Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, at (202) 720-3252.
Where can applicants find official terms and additional details?
The announcement references a Federal Register notice and related national cost share program information for additional details and official terms.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program
Previous opportunity: AMA Organic Certification Cost Share Program
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for AMS TM 09 0056
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (AMS TM 09 0056) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| State and Regional AgrAbility Program Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002651 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002651 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| FY2010 Wood Education and Resource Center Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA FS WERC 2010 Funding Number: USDA FS WERC 2010 Agency: Forest Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCRGP 002778 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCRGP 002778 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002776 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002776 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Education Equity Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCEG 002777 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCEG 002777 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $93,750 |
| Federal State Marketing Improvement Program Apply for USDA AMS FSMIP 2010 Funding Number: USDA AMS FSMIP 2010 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Data Collection and Support Services for Malawis Agricultural Development Program Support Projects Impact Evaluation Apply for MCC 10 0044 RFA 60 Funding Number: MCC 10 0044 RFA 60 Agency: Millennium Challenge Corporation Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $128,000 |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill Apply for AMS FV 09 0072 Funding Number: AMS FV 09 0072 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 002918 Funding Number: USDA NIFA BFR 002918 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| marwan 020610 Apply for MARWAN 020610 Funding Number: MARWAN 020610 Agency: KVkv Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FARM BILL PROGRAMS and CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Apply for NRCS MD 10 0001 Funding Number: NRCS MD 10 0001 Agency: Maryland State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2010 Cooperative Agreements for Advancing Animal Disease Traceability Apply for USDA GRANTS 030510 001 Funding Number: USDA GRANTS 030510 001 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program Apply for USDA RMA OUTREACH 2010 01 Funding Number: USDA RMA OUTREACH 2010 01 Agency: Risk Management Agency Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| RECOVERY Perform Farmland Preservation with Navajo Youth Corps HUTR 151632 14 1035 561990 This project will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and is subject to the reporting requirements of the Act. Apply for NPS ARRANOIHUTR100002 Funding Number: NPS ARRANOIHUTR100002 Agency: National Park Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Farmers Market Promotion Program Apply for USDA AMS FMPP 2010 Funding Number: USDA AMS FMPP 2010 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| EQIP IRRIGATION RELATED TECHNICAL SERVICES Apply for USDA NRCS HI 10 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS HI 10 01 Agency: Hawaii State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $58,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grants FY 2010 North Carolina State Component Apply for USDA NRCS NC 10 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NC 10 001 Agency: North Carolina State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Wetlands Reserve Program Restoration Assistance Apply for NRCS MS 10 0001 Funding Number: NRCS MS 10 0001 Agency: Mississippi State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| National Clean Plant Network Cooperative Agreement Program Request for Applications Apply for USDA GRANTS 042210 001 Funding Number: USDA GRANTS 042210 001 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2010 Conservation Innovation Grant Opportunity Apply for USDA NRCS NM 10 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NM 10 01 Agency: New Mexico State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "AMS TM 09 0056", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.