[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 168 (Thursday, August 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 50756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19921]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 168 / Thursday, August 28, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 50756]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[AMS-TM-08-0072; TM-08-09]


Notice of Agricultural Management Assistance Organic 
Certification Cost Share Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of funds availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice invites the following eligible States: 
Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, 
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, 
Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, to submit an Application for 
Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424), and to enter into a Cooperative 
Agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for the 
Allocation of Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds. The AMS has 
allocated $1.5 million for this organic certification cost-share 
program in Fiscal Year 2008. Funds will be available under this program 
to 16 designated States to assist organic crop and livestock producers 
certified under the National Organic Program (NOP). 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 close of business, September 
15, 2008, in order to participate in this program.

ADDRESSES: Applications for federal assistance and cooperative 
agreements shall be requested from and submitted to: Robert Pooler, 
Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/
TMP/NOP, Room 4008-South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0264; Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-
7808. 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, Agricultural Marketing 
Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TM/NOP, Room 4008-South, 
Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0268; 
Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Organic Certification Cost-Share 
Program is part of the Agricultural Management Assistance Program 
authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA), as amended, (7 
U.S.C. 1524). Under the applicable FCIA provisions, the Department is 
authorized to provide cost share assistance to producers in the States 
of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, 
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode 
Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The AMS has 
allocated $1.5 million for this organic certification cost-share 
program in Fiscal Year 2008. This organic certification cost share 
program provides financial assistance to organic producers certified to 
the NOP authorized under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.). This program is in addition to and 
separate from the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program 
which is also administered by AMS and is open to all States and U.S. 
Territories.
    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 receiving certification or update of certification 
by a USDA accredited certifying agent from October 1, 2008 through 
September 30, 2009. The Department has determined that payments will be 
limited to 75 percent of an individual producer's certification costs 
up to a maximum of $750.00.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1524.

    Dated: August 22, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19921 Filed 8-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P