Opportunity Information: Apply for AMS NOP 10 0066
Apply for AMS NOP 10 0066
- 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 12, 2010 and posted on Aug 27, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 23, 2010 Electronic submissions will close October 23rd. Contact the USDA National Organic Program regarding late submissions.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,872,500.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,050,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 53 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
- States participating in this program will sign a cooperative agreement with USDA AMS, which stipulates the terms and conditions. If your State is interested in participating, then the completed application and signed copies of the cooperative agreement should be received by the USDA no later than September 24, 2010. Reimbursement under this program is available to producers or handling operations receiving certification or continuing with certification under the National Organic Program during the period of October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. States participating in the Agricultural Management Assistance Program may only reimburse handlers under the National Organic Cost Share Program.
[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 USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity that helps organic producers and handlers recover part of the cost of becoming certified organic or maintaining their organic certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Instead of providing payments directly to individual farms or businesses from USDA, the program works through state governments. Participating states use the federal funds to reimburse eligible applicants for certification expenses incurred during the covered certification period.
The core benefit is a reimbursement of up to 75 percent of an individual producer or handler's eligible organic certification costs, capped at 750 dollars per year per operation. In practice, that means a certified operation that paid for organic certification-related fees can apply through its state program and, if eligible and funds are available, receive back three-quarters of those costs up to the annual limit. The intent is to reduce a common barrier to organic certification, especially for smaller operations for whom annual certification fees can be significant.
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning USDA partners with each participating state under a formal agreement that sets program terms and conditions. The eligible applicants at the federal level are state governments, not individual producers. To participate, a state needed to submit a completed application and signed cooperative agreement documents to USDA AMS by the required deadline. Once approved, the state administers reimbursements within its jurisdiction and follows the federal requirements laid out in the cooperative agreement.
The funding totals and award structure indicate a nationwide, state-by-state program. USDA expected to make up to 53 awards, aligning with the number of states and territories that may participate. The estimated total federal funding available was 4,872,500 dollars, with individual state awards ranging from a floor of 5,000 dollars to a ceiling of 1,050,000 dollars, depending on how USDA allocated funds and the scale of participation. The CFDA listing associated with the program is 10.163 (Market Protection and Promotion). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement for the state applicants under this announcement.
For eligibility timing, reimbursements were available for certification obtained or renewed under the National Organic Program during the period from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. The announcement also noted a restriction for states participating in the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program: those states could only reimburse handlers under the National Organic Cost Share Program, which affects which types of operations a state could cover depending on its participation in AMA.
Key administrative details from the notice include the funding opportunity number (AMS NOP 10-0066) and the published timeline. The opportunity was posted on August 27, 2010, with an original closing date of December 31, 2010, later updated to an electronic submissions closing date of October 23, 2010, with late submission questions directed to the USDA National Organic Program. The federal agency contact listed for access issues and grants management questions was Betsy Rakola, Grants Management Specialist at AMS (202-720-0081, betsy.rakola@ams.usda.gov). Additional program information was provided through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program website referenced in the announcement.
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 USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity designed to help organic producers and handlers recover part of the cost of becoming certified organic or maintaining organic certification under the National Organic Program (NOP).
What does the program pay for?
The program reimburses eligible organic certification expenses incurred during the covered certification period. The notice describes these as organic certification costs/fees tied to obtaining or renewing certification under the National Organic Program (NOP).
How much reimbursement can an operation receive?
An individual producer or handler can be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of eligible organic certification costs, capped at $750 per year per operation.
Does USDA pay individual farms or businesses directly?
No. USDA does not provide payments directly to individual farms or businesses under this opportunity. Instead, USDA partners with participating state governments, and states reimburse eligible applicants within their jurisdiction.
Who applies to USDA for this grant opportunity?
The eligible applicants at the federal level are state governments (not individual producers or handlers). States apply to USDA AMS and, once approved, administer reimbursements in-state under the cooperative agreement terms.
How do producers and handlers actually receive the reimbursement?
Producers and handlers apply through their state program. If they meet the state program requirements, incurred eligible certification expenses during the covered period, and state funds are available, they can receive reimbursement up to the stated limits.
What is the covered certification period for eligible expenses?
Reimbursements were available for certification obtained or renewed under the National Organic Program (NOP) during the period from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.
Is this grant a standard grant or a cooperative agreement?
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. USDA partners with each participating state under a formal cooperative agreement that sets program terms and conditions, and the state carries out reimbursements consistent with those requirements.
How many awards were expected to be made?
USDA expected to make up to 53 awards, corresponding to participation across states and territories.
How much total funding was available nationwide?
The estimated total federal funding available under the announcement was $4,872,500.
How large could an individual state award be?
Individual state awards were described as ranging from a minimum (floor) of $5,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $1,050,000, depending on USDA allocation and participation scale.
Is there a cost-share or matching requirement for states?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement for state applicants.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA listing associated with the program is 10.163 (Market Protection and Promotion).
Are there any restrictions related to the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program?
Yes. The announcement noted that states participating in the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program could only reimburse handlers under the National Organic Cost Share Program. This can affect which types of operations a state could cover, depending on the state's participation in AMA.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number listed in the notice is AMS NOP 10-0066.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 27, 2010.
What were the closing dates for submissions?
The notice lists an original closing date of December 31, 2010, and it also notes an updated electronic submissions closing date of October 23, 2010.
Who should be contacted about late submission questions?
The notice directed late submission questions to the USDA National Organic Program.
Who was the federal contact for access issues and grants management questions?
The federal agency contact listed for access issues and grants management questions was Betsy Rakola, Grants Management Specialist at AMS. Phone: 202-720-0081. Email: betsy.rakola@ams.usda.gov.
Where could additional program information be found?
The announcement referenced the Organic Certification Cost Share Program website as a source of additional program information.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The stated intent is to reduce a common barrier to organic certification by helping offset certification costs, which can be significant, particularly for smaller operations.
If an operation paid organic certification fees, does it automatically receive reimbursement?
No. The notice indicates reimbursement depends on eligibility and whether funds are available through the participating state program. Applications are processed at the state level under the cooperative agreement requirements.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: AMA Organic Certification Cost Share Program
Previous opportunity: Pocatello and Upper Snake Field Offices Wildlife Habitat Improvement Stewardship
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 NOP 10 0066
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (AMS NOP 10 0066) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| AMA Organic Certification Cost Share Program Apply for AMS NOP 10 0065 Funding Number: AMS NOP 10 0065 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Children, Youth and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003353 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 003353 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $140,000 |
| Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 003356 Funding Number: USDA NIFA BFR 003356 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Collaborative Research and Capacity Building Apply for USAID TANZANIA 11 003 RFA Funding Number: USAID TANZANIA 11 003 RFA Agency: Tanzania USAID Dar es Salaam Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $24,000,000 |
| UGANDA FEED THE FUTURE (FTF) PROGRAMS Apply for USAID UGANDA 617 INFOMATION 10 2010 Funding Number: USAID UGANDA 617 INFOMATION 10 2010 Agency: Uganda USAID Kampala Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Administrative Review and Training Grants (ART) Method I Apply for USDA FNS CN ART FY2011 Funding Number: USDA FNS CN ART FY2011 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Federal State Marketing Improvement Program Apply for USDA AMS FSMIP 2011 Funding Number: USDA AMS FSMIP 2011 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT (CIG) Apply for USDA NRCS VA 11 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VA 11 01 Agency: Virginia State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCRGP 003400 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCRGP 003400 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| North Carolina Conservation Innovation Grants FY11 Apply for USDA NRCS NC 11 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NC 11 01 Agency: North Carolina State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCEG 003401 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCEG 003401 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $93,750 |
| Request for Information Agriculture Led Economic Growth Food Security Program in Angola Apply for 674 11 18RFI Funding Number: 674 11 18RFI Agency: South Africa USAID Pretoria Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program FY 2011 Apply for VPA HIP Funding Number: VPA HIP Agency: Farm Service Agency Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Program Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003408 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 003408 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Service Program 2010 Special Emphasis Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003409 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 003409 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $85,000 |
| FY 2011 New Jersey Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS NJ 11 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NJ 11 001 Agency: New Jersey State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT Apply for USDA NRCS KS 11 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS KS 11 01 Agency: Kansas State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Pastoralist Areas Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Program Apply for RFA 663 11 000007 Funding Number: RFA 663 11 000007 Agency: Ethiopia USAID Addis Ababa Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $7,000,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grants NH State Component Apply for USDA NRCS NH 11 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NH 11 01 Agency: USDA NRCS NH State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development (GRAD) Apply for RFA 663 11 000008 Funding Number: RFA 663 11 000008 Agency: Ethiopia USAID Addis Ababa Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $23,400,000 |
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 NOP 10 0066", 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.