Vermont Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) offers funding assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to organic producers and handlers of agricultural products who have received organic certification through a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

Certified organic operations may receive reimbursement of up to 75% of their direct certification costs paid between October 1 and September 30 annually, not to exceed $750 per certification scope. There are up to four eligible certification scopes (crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling), which must be individually inspected for organic certification to be eligible for reimbursement.

Reimbursement is available on a first come, first served basis.

Certified organic producers and handlers who have paid certification fees to become newly certified or re-certified for specific scopes under the National Organic Program (NOP) are eligible for cost-share reimbursement.

Reimbursement for organic transition is not currently available. Operations with suspended, revoked, or withdrawn certifications are also ineligible for cost share reimbursement.

Allowable costs include application fees; inspection fees, including travel costs and per diem for organic inspectors; USDA organic certification costs, including fees necessary to access international markets with which AMS has equivalency agreements or arrangements; user fees/sales assessments; postage; and State Organic Program fees. Unallowable costs include inspections due to violations, costs related to non-USDA organic certifications, transitional certification, materials/supplies/equipment, late fees, membership fees, and consultant fees.

Reimbursement covers up to 75% of direct certification costs paid between October 1 and September 30 annually, not to exceed $750 per certification scope (crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling). Reimbursement is available on a first come, first served basis.

For businesses certified through the Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF) certification program, contact NOFA-VOF for an expedited application process. All other USDA-accredited certified operations submit a completed application, a current W-9 form, a copy of their organic certification, and an itemized receipt of allowable costs to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, Organic Reimbursement Program, 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-2901. Questions: AGR.OrganicCostShare@vermont.gov.

Note (per the Agency's August 26, 2026 update): the USDA will offer a grant to states to reimburse organic producers for both 2025 and 2026 certification costs, but Vermont has not yet received state funding details. In the interim, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting OCCSP applications directly. Check the program page for updates.