[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 184 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 54555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22047]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agriculture Marketing Service

[AMS-TM-08-0086; TM-08-10]


Notice of 2008 National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Services, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of funds availability.

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SUMMARY: This Notice invites all States of the United States of 
America, its territories, the District of Columbia, and the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, (collectively hereinafter called States) 
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 National Organic 
Certification Cost-Share Funds. The AMS has allocated $22.0 million for 
this organic certification cost-share program commencing in Fiscal Year 
2008. Funds are available under this program to interested States to 
assist organic producers and handlers certified under the National 
Organic Program (NOP), as appropriate. States interested in obtaining 
cost-share funds must submit an Application for Federal Assistance and 
enter into a cooperative agreement with AMS for allocation of funds.

DATES: Completed applications for federal assistance along with signed 
cooperative agreements must be received by September 29, 2008, in order 
to participate in the 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 20250-0268; 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 National Organic Certification Cost-
Share Program is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 6523, as amended by section 
10301 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Act). The Act 
authorizes the Department to provide certification cost share 
assistance to producers and handlers of organic agricultural products 
in all States. The AMS has allocated $22 million for this program. The 
Program provides financial assistance to organic producers and handlers 
certified to the NOP. The NOP is authorized under the Organic Foods 
Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).
    To participate in the program, interested States must complete an 
Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) and enter into a 
written cooperative agreement with AMS. The program will provide cost-
share assistance, through participating States, to organic producers 
and handlers receiving certification or continuation of certification 
by a USDA-accredited certifying agent commencing October 1, 2008. Under 
the Act payments are limited to 75 percent of an individual producer's 
or handler's certification costs up to a maximum of $750.00 per year.
    However, for 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 cost share funding is available to these states 
under the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification 
Cost-Share Program authorized under Section 1524 of the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524). As provided in a notice 
of Funds Availability published in the Federal Register on August 28, 
2008, at 73 FR 50756, completed applications for this federal 
assistance program, along with signed cooperative agreements must be 
received by close of business, September 15, 2008. Information on this 
program can be found on the NOP's homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6523.

    Dated: September 16, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22047 Filed 9-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P