[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5164-5165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01409]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-NOP-12-0057; NOP-12-15]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 $1.425 million for this organic certification cost-share 
program. Funds are available to 16 designated States to provide cost-
share assistance to organic crop and livestock producers certified 
under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic Standards (7 
CFR 205) that either receive organic certification or incur expenses 
for continued certification during the period of October 1, 2012 
through September 30, 2013. Eligible States interested in obtaining 
cost-share funds for their organic producers must submit an Application 
for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) via http://www.grants.gov 
and enter into a Cooperative Agreement with AMS for the allocation of 
funds.

DATES: Completed Applications for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 
424) and signed Cooperative Agreements must be received by February 7, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Applications for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) must 
be submitted via Grants.Gov. Paper applications will not be accepted. 
Instructions and additional information are available on the NOP Web 
site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing.
    Signed cooperative agreements should be sent via express mail to 
Patricia Atkins, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic 
Program, USDA/AMS/NOP, Room 2648-South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0268.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Atkins, Agricultural 
Marketing Specialist, NOP, USDA/AMS/NOP, Room 2648-South, Ag Stop 0268, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0268; Telephone: 
(202) 720-3252. Email: [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, USDA 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 $1.425 
million for this year's organic certification cost-share program. This 
program provides financial assistance to organic producers certified 
under the USDA Organic Regulations (7 CFR 205), which were 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, 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 Departments 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, 2012 through September 30, 2013. USDA 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 crop and livestock 
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,

[[Page 5165]]

at http://www.grants.gov. For information on how to use Grants.Gov, 
please consult http://www.grants.gov/GetRegistered. Applications must 
be received by February 7, 2013. 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 under the Addresses section of 
this Notice by February 7, 2013.
    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: January 18, 2013.
David R. Shipman,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-01409 Filed 1-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P