02-21610. Notice of Organic Certification Cost Share Program

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Services, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This Notice invites eligible States to submit a Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, and to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service for the Allocation of Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has allocated $1.0 million for this organic certification cost-share program in Fiscal Year 2002. Funds will be available under this program to 15 designated States to assist organic crop and livestock producers certified to the National Organic Program. Eligible States interested in obtaining cost-share funds for their organic producers will have to submit an Application for Federal Assistance, and will have to enter into a cooperative agreement with AMS for the allocation of such funds.

DATES:

Completed applications for federal assistance along with signed cooperative agreements must be received by October 10, 2002 in order to participate in this program.

ADDRESSES:

Applications for federal assistance and cooperative agreements shall be requested from and submitted to: Robert Pooler, Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TMP/NOP, Room 4008-South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0264; Telephone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]. Additional information may be found through the National Organic Program's homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/​nop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Pooler, Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TM/NOP, Room 4008-South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0264; Telephone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This Organic Certification Cost-Share Program is part of the Agricultural Management Assistance Program authorized under Section 1524 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA), as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524). Under the applicable FCIA provisions, the Department is authorized to provide cost share assistance to producers in the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. These 15 States have historically low participation rates in Federal crop insurance programs. This organic certification cost share program provides financial assistance to organic producers certified to the National Organic Program authorized under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).

To participate in the program, eligible States must complete a Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, and enter into a written cooperative agreement with AMS. The program will provide cost-share assistance, through participating States, to organic crop and livestock producers who have been certified by a USDA accredited certifying agent from November 1, 2002 until September 30, 2003. The Department has determined that payments will be limited to 75 percent of an individual producer's certification costs up to a maximum of $500.00.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1501-1524

Dated: August 19, 2002.

A.J. Yates,

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.