2025 USDA Organic Cost Share Rebate – Update
As we have reported to you over the last several months, MCS and MOFGA continue working to understand the timing and distribution of the 2025 Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), provided annually by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), due to the delay in Congressional funding for the program for 2025. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is responsible for releasing the cost share rebate funds annually. We have been working with our partners at the National Organic Coalition to get information about the timing of the 2025 funds being released, after the funds were included and signed into law on July 4th, 2025. The National Organic Coalition met with FSA in December, and were told that FSA is planning to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) for the organic cost share in late spring of 2026. It appears that FSA will be issuing funding for both 2025 and 2026 at the same time. While this information has not been made public by FSA, we wanted to provide you with the latest information we received. While this news is disappointing and a challenge for MOFGA-certified producers, we are optimistic that FSA will honor the 2025 cost share, despite the delay in the funding being released.
We know that this delay hurts farmers and producers, and we wanted to share this action alert information that was publicized recently by the National Organic Coalition. Please consider contacting USDA and your members of Congress, letting them know the negative impact the lack of the 2025 cost share has been for you. They need to hear from farmers and producers directly impacted!
USDA Cost-Share Delays are Hurting Organic Farms — Your Voice Can Help
Organic farms still haven’t received their 2025 certification cost-share reimbursements, despite Congress authorizing the funds. These delays are putting financial pressure on organic operations and some farms are postponing renewal, scaling back, or exiting organic altogether. Congress has already done its part by providing funding. Now USDA must deliver the support farmers are counting on.
TAKE ACTION: Email USDA Under Secretary Richard Fordyce and FSA Administrator Bill Beam and your Members of Congress today!
For producers that wish to contact legislators, you can find your legislative office phone numbers here:
Senate – https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
House – https://www.house.gov/representatives
Please contact MCS if you have any questions, and we will provide additional updates as we understand more about the timing and notice of funding availability.
Sincerely,
The MCS Team
207-568-6030
certification@mofga.org
