| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Ann Bay |
| January 27, 2009 | (406) 444-3684 |
Organic Certification Cost Share Assistance Available
HELENA, Mont. —The Montana Department of Agriculture is offering cost-share assistance for organic certification expenses under two separate programs.
Certified organic growers of fruits, vegetables and other "specialty crops" will receive payments based on certification costs currently on file with the department. Payments will be made within the next 30 days to those growers, says Doug Crabtree, program manager. Each eligible grower will receive an equal percentage reimbursement.
Specialty crops are defined in federal law. Qualifying crops grown in Montana include fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, potatoes, peas and lentils. To be eligible, growers must raise a specialty crop, be certified organic by a USDA-accredited agency, and have total gross income from farming of less than $100,000 in 2008.
Organic growers who do not raise specialty crops may apply for cost reimbursement under the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Under this program, certified organic producers and handlers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 75 percent of certification costs incurred between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2009. The program was contained in the 2008 Farm Bill. In essence, it allows reimbursement for a percentage of two years of certification expenses, says Doug Crabtree, organic program manager for the department.
An application form is posted on the department's website at: www.agr.mt.gov/organic/CostShareForm09.doc. Total reimbursement for a single certification may not exceed $750. However, an operation certified as both a producer and handler may receive up to $1,500. Both programs are open to any certified organic operation located in Montana.
Reimbursements cannot be made under both programs. For additional information, contact Ann Bay at the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-7804 or by email at agr@mt.gov.
