Farmers looking for help in paying for organic certifications have just a few weeks left to take advantage of a reimbursement program. KRCC’s Tucker Hampson reports.
The program is part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2013, which was put into place by the USDA. It aims to assist farmers seeking organic certification by reimbursing up to 75% or $750.00 of the process per category, including crops and livestock.
Amy Stafford, Organic Program Manager for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, says that while this program is relatively new, it’s already had an impact, especially for smaller farms:
“It does make it so they are able to maintain a certification and be able to do it at a price that is reasonable for the management of their operation.”
Organic certification can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the size of the farm, including application fees, annual renewals, and inspection fees.
The final date to qualify for this year’s reimbursement is September 30th, and the deadline for submitting reimbursement applications is November 15th.
