[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 55000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22613]



[[Page 55000]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-NOP-11-0071; NOP-11-12]


Notice of Agricultural Management Assistance Organic 
Certification Cost-Share Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications from State 
Departments of Agriculture for the Agricultural Management Assistance 
Organic Certification Cost-Share Program.

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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 2011. Funds are available to 16 designated 
States to provide cost-share assistance to organic crop and livestock 
producers certified under the USDA Organic Standards (7 CFR 205). 
Eligible States interested in obtaining cost-share funds for their 
organic producers must submit an Application for Federal Assistance via 
http://www.grants.gov and enter into a cooperative agreement with AMS 
for the allocation of funds.

DATES: Completed Applications for Federal Assistance and signed 
cooperative agreements must be received by the National Organic Program 
(NOP) no later than September 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Applications for Federal Assistance must be submitted via 
Grants.Gov. Paper applications will not be accepted. Instructions and 
additional information are available on the National Organic Program's 
Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing.
    Signed cooperative agreements should be sent via express mail to 
Betsy Rakola, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic 
Program, USDA/AMS/NOP, Room 2640-South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0268.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betsy Rakola, Agricultural Marketing 
Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/NOP, Room 2640-South, Ag 
Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0268; 
Telephone: (202) 720-3252. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Organic Certification Cost-Share 
Program is part of the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) 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 organic 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 2011. This program provides financial 
assistance to organic producers certified under the USDA Organic 
Regulations (7 CFR part 205), which were 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, through their State 
Departments of Agriculture, must complete an Application for Federal 
Assistance (Standard Form 424) and enter into a written cooperative 
agreement with AMS. State Department of Agriculture refers to agencies, 
commissions, or departments of State government responsible for 
implementing regulation, policy or programs on agriculture within their 
State. The program will provide cost-share assistance, through 
participating States, to organic crop and livestock producers receiving 
certification or incurring expenses for the continuation of 
certification by a USDA accredited certifying agent during the period 
of October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012. The Department has 
determined that payments will be limited to 75% (seventy-five percent) 
of an individual producer's certification costs, up to a maximum of 
$750 (seven-hundred and fifty dollars).
    To receive cost-share assistance, organic producers should contact 
their State agencies. Procedures for applying are outlined in the cost 
share policies and procedures at http://1.usa.gov/OrganicCostShare. The 
total amount of cost-share payments provided to any eligible producer 
under all AMA programs cannot exceed $50,000.
    How to Submit Applications: To receive fund allocations to provide 
cost-share assistance, a State Department of Agriculture must complete 
an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424), and enter 
into a written cooperative agreement with AMS. Interested States must 
submit the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) 
electronically via Grants.gov, the Federal grants Web site, at http://www.grants.gov. For information on how to use Grants.Gov, please 
consult http://www.grants.gov/GetRegistered. Applications must be filed 
by Friday, September 23, 2011. Cooperative agreements will be sent by 
the AMS to participating State Departments of Agriculture via express 
mail. The cooperative agreement must have the original signature of an 
official who has authority to apply for Federal assistance. The signed 
cooperative agreement must be sent by express mail or courier service 
and received by the NOP at the address above by September 23, 2011.
    The AMA Organic Certification Cost-Share Program is listed in the 
``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance'' under number 10.171. Subject 
agencies must adhere to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which 
bars discrimination in all Federally-assisted programs. Additional 
information on the AMA Organic Certification Cost-Share Program can be 
found on the NOP's Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 1524.

    Dated: August 29, 2011.
Ellen King,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-22613 Filed 9-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P