Wisconsin Organic Cost Share Certification Rebate Program (OCCSP)

Wisconsin's administration of the USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), reimbursing certified-organic farms and processors a share of their organic certification costs.

Wisconsin certified-organic (or transitioning) crop, livestock, wild crop, and handler operations.

Reimburses 75% of certification costs, up to $750 per certification scope across as many as four scopes (crops, livestock, wild crops, handler). The last state application period closed in December 2024; applicants are directed to USDA FSA in the interim.

There are two routes to this reimbursement and you may use only one. DATCP is explicit: "Please note that you may only apply for the Organic Certification Cost Share with FSA or DATCP."

Right now, apply through FSA. As of the update posted on DATCP's Organic Farming and Food page, "As of July 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not yet opened the Organic Certification Cost Share Program for 2025 or 2026 through the States' Departments of Agriculture," and DATCP "does not have any updates on when it will begin accepting applications." The state's last round is closed — "The last OCCSP application period closed in December 2024." In the meantime the federal route is open: "FSA offices are actively accepting applications. Those who need cost share funds promptly may apply with their local county FSA office." So the working route today is your local county USDA Farm Service Agency office.

The DATCP route, when it reopens. DATCP says it "will be running the 2025 and 2026 years concurrently" once the program opens. Applications are then submitted by one of "three application methods: mail, email or online form," all published on the program page at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/OrganicFarmingAndFood.aspx. To hear about it: DATCP says "You can sign up to receive notifications about the program by text or email via the electronic mailing list" (https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIDATCP/subscriber/new) and that it "will update this webpage and send out notifications as soon as program details are announced."

What to assemble for the DATCP route

• Proof of certification and proof of payment, both required: "Supporting documentation includes both proof of certification and proof of payment." Watch the form of the receipt — "canceled checks or invoices that do not show proof of payment are not an acceptable form of documentation."

• New applicants only: a completed W-9 (https://datcp.wi.gov/Documents2/W9.pdf) and a DATCP New Supplier form (https://datcp.wi.gov/Documents2/DOA-6460NewSupplier.pdf).

• You do not have to wait for paperwork to file: "Applicants may submit applications without including supporting documentation or new applicant forms," and those can follow later by mail, email or the online form.

• Your certifier can send the documentation for you, but only with its agreement: "Certifiers may provide DATCP with supporting documentation, but certifying agencies must agree to do this."

Deadline. None is currently published. The state application period is closed and no reopening date has been announced; FSA intake is continuous in the meantime.

Who to ask. Jarret Miles-Kroening, Organic and Specialty Crops Program Specialist — DATCPorganiccostshare@wisconsin.gov, (608) 320-6685. General program questions also go to datcporganiccostshare@wi.gov.