MANHATTAN – Kansas organic producers or farmers interested in receiving organic certification are encouraged to apply to receive cost-share funds. The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program is funded by the 2014 Farm Bill and can assist Kansas farmers in paying for organic certification or recertification.

Funds from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will be distributed among Kansas organic producers. Under the state’s agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), farms and businesses that produce, process or package certified organic agricultural products are eligible to be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of their certification costs, or up to $750 per certification category, for certification between Oct. 1, 2015, and Sept. 30, 2016, as long as funds remain.

The application for the cost-share funding, as well as other information about the program, is available on the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) website, agriculture.ks.gov/organiccostshare. Reimbursements will be on a first-come, first-served basis, based on receipt of the completed application packet, until available funding is exhausted.

KDA strives to serve all Kansas farmers and is committed to encouraging the economic growth of the agriculture industry, Kansas’ largest economic driver.