[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 52131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20484]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-NOP-13-0061; NOP-13-05]


Notice of Funds Availability: Agricultural Management Assistance 
Organic Certification Cost-Share Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Grant 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 16 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 a Grant Application 
(Application for Federal Assistance Standard Form 424) to the 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for organic certification cost-
share funds. A total of $1,352,850 is available to the 16 designated 
States for this program in Fiscal Year 2013. Funds will 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 a grant application via http://www.grants.gov.

DATES: Grant applications must be received by the National Organic 
Program (NOP) no later than Friday, August 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Grant applications 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rita Meade, Cost Share Coordinator, 
National Organic Program, 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, 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 $1,352,850 for this organic certification cost-
share program in Fiscal Year 2013. 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.).
    To participate in the program, eligible States, through their State 
Departments of Agriculture, must complete an Application for Federal 
Assistance (Standard Form 424). 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, 2013 through September 30, 2014. 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 in 
participating States 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 grant agreement with the 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, 
August 30, 2013. Grant agreements will be sent by the AMS to 
participating State Departments of Agriculture via express mail. The 
grant agreement must be signed by an official who has authority to 
apply for Federal assistance, and must be returned to the NOP at the 
address above by September 30, 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: August 16, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20484 Filed 8-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P