Louisiana agricultural producers and handlers who obtained USDA Organic certification or recertification may qualify for reimbursement to recoup some of their costs through a 2021 State Organic Cost-Share Rebate program.
The rebates are available for USDA Organic certification and recertification expenses incurred between October 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021.
Producers must go through their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to apply for their federal reimbursement before submitting an application for state reimbursement through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF). The state program will provide reimbursements of up to 50 percent of certification and recertification costs up to $500 maximum reimbursement per year. The LDAF payment will be based ONLY on one (1) category.
Reimbursements will be on a first-come, first-served basis, based on receipt of the completed application packet, until available funding is exhausted. For more information, contact Jeremy Hendrix at 337-948-0230. Additional information is available from the USDA National Organic Program website at Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) here.