financial assistance

News that many of our organic operations have been impacted by the wildfires raging throughout California has rippled through the CCOF offices this week. Inspectors, chapter members, and certified members have called to see how CCOF can lend a hand. CCOF’s Bricmont Fund is poised to help organic operations in their time of need, but we have limited funds to give away as hardship assistance grants this year.

The application deadline for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program is fast approaching!

Any operation that is located within the United States and received organic certification between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015 may apply for reimbursement by October 31, 2015.

All certified organic entities in the United States are eligible to apply for a refund of 75% of their certification-related costs, including inspection fees, up to a maximum of $750 per certification or certified scope.

The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides compensation to livestock producers that suffered drought-related grazing losses on specific types of pastureland. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages eligible livestock producers to enroll in the LFP now. The USDA must reduce payments to producers who do not take action by September 30, 2014. 

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has announced that the deadline for applying for certification cost-share is now November 29, 2014. The new deadline is earlier than previously announced.