Get Help on Organic Certification Costs | Vermont Business Magazine

Submitted by tim on Mon, 08/21/2023 - 05:00

Get Help on Organic Certification Costs

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service, The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) offers funding assistance to organic producers and handlers of agricultural products who have received organic certification through a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

Certified organic operations may receive reimbursement of up to 75% of their direct certification costs paid between October 1 and September 30 annually, not to exceed $750 per certification scope.

Depending on who certified your business, there are two ways to apply. If your business is certified through the Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF) certification program, please contact NOFA-VOF for an expedited application process.

For all other USDA-accredited certified operations, please submit the following completed documents:

Application
A current W-9 Form
Copy of your organic certification
Copy of an itemized receipt that identifies allowable costs paid within the qualification period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023

Applications should be mailed to:

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Organic Reimbursement Program
116 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620-2901

Reimbursement is available on a first come, first served basis. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2023

Learn More and Apply

NRCS VT Flood Recovery Funding

Natural Resources Conservation Service of Vermont allocated $4 million in funding to assist farm businesses impacted by the July flooding. Farms engaged in the following practices may be eligible for disaster assistance funding:

Cover Cropping
Critical Area Planting
Fencing
Pasture and Hay Planting
Mulching
Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till
Feed Management

Contact your local NRCS service center to apply.

Deadline to apply: September 1

Maple Regulations & Certifications Workshop

Join for a tour of Gagne Maple and learn from experts about the requirements and benefits of both organic certification, and sugarhouse food safety certification.

Gagne Maple is a fifth generation wood-fired sugaring operation, certified organic by Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF), and a sugarhouse food safety program participant with the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association (VMSMA).

This workshop will be geared toward maple producers and those in a related field. Registration is required, and cremees will be provided!

Workshop Date: August 28 at 4pm

Exciting Ways to Engage Visitors on Your Farm this Fall

Just as the growing season begins to wind down and we enjoy the season’s bounty, the leaves turn red, orange, and purple and visitors flock to our state to experience its natural beauty. Many visitors to Vermont are eager for experiences that allow them to reconnect with nature and learn about our agricultural heritage.

Offering authentic on-farm experiences in the fall is a great way to spread the word about your farm and products, bring in additional revenue, and create memorable experiences for folks from near and far. This week on the blog, we share some fun fall agritourism ideas that will help you make the most of this colorful season!

Plant Pest Workshop in Rutland

Have you gotten all your plants into the ground and then realized you aren’t the only one eating the tasty leaves? Do you wonder what kind of smaller organisms are out there enjoying your fruits and veggies and how best to manage them?

Join for a workshop on Monday, August 28 at Boardman Hill Farm in West Rutland to learn from Vermont Farmers Food Center's Greg Cox just who these pests are, why they are there, and best techniques for keeping your plants safe without the use of pesticides. Community potluck to follow for those interested.

Workshop date: August 28 at 5pm

View the VAAFM Grants Calendar