The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is offering USDA's National Organic Certification Cost Share Program to Hoosier Organic Producers.  Any organic producer is the state of Indiana who has been certified through a qualifying agency is eligible to receive funding through this program.   


Producers may be reimbursed for their certification or recertification expenses between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2011. Producers can receive up to 75 percent of their organic certification costs, not to exceed $750. Applications can be found on ISDA's website. Producers will need to provide a copy of their certifiers paid receipt or a copy of the certifiers invoice and some sort of proof-of-payment (canceled check or bank statement) along with the Organic Cost Share Program application form and a new vendor form.  Applications and the necessary documentation need to be submitted to ISDA by November 1, 2011.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) encourages Hoosier farmers interested in organics to take advantage of USDA's National Organic Certification Cost Share Program.


Indiana has received funds through the Agricultural Management Assistance Program, authorized by the Federal Crop Insurance Act, to reimburse producers for the cost of organic certification. Producers may be reimbursed for their certification or recertification expenses between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010. Producers can receive up to 75 percent of their organic certification costs, not to exceed $750. Applications can be found on ISDA's website.  Applications and documentation need to be submitted to ISDA by October 15, 2010.

This is an easy opportunity for Organic Producers to receive financial assistance but you will have to act quickly as funds are distributed on a first come first served basis.

While this program isn’t technically considered a grant, it is a funding opportunity that I wanted to make Indiana Organic Producers aware of. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture offers the USDA National Organic Certification Cost Share Program to Organic Producers in the state who become organically certified or re-certified between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010. This program will reimburse producers for 75% of the cost of their certification or recertification up to $750.

The application is relatively easy and can be found on ISDA’s website at http://www.in.gov/isda/2740.htm along with a “New Vendor form” which allows the state to reimburse producers through direct deposit. These forms will need to be sent along with copies of their organic certificate, invoice and proof of payment (cancelled check, money order or bank statement.) If you do not have these documents, contact your certifier and request them, as they are all require in order to receive the reimbursement.