Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, May 12, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana organic farmers and handlers can apply for a rebate of up to 75 percent of the cost of their organic certification. The Indiana Department State of Agriculture (ISDA) is accepting applications for the Indiana Organic Cost Share Program from now until December 1, 2015.
Organic certification is a third-party verification system assuring consumers the organic products they buy are produced in accordance with federal organic regulations. Organic operations must follow National Organic Standards and are monitored through review of their records and on-site inspections at least once a year.
"This program is designed to make organic certification more affordable," said ISDA Director Ted McKinney. "We encourage organic producers to participate in this program and hope that it will help them recoup some of the expenses associated with becoming a USDA certified organic operation."
Allowable Costs:
Unallowable Costs:
Funds for the cost share program come from a cooperative agreement with USDA. Operations that received certification (or had ongoing certification) between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015 are eligible for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of certification-related costs with a maximum of $750 per category (crop, livestock, processing/handling, wild harvest).
To qualify, applicants must be certified organic by a USDA-accredited certifying agency. If you have questions about the processing of your application please contact Beth Dawson at (317) 232-8333 or email bdawson@lg.in.gov. To learn more about the program or other ISDA programs please contact Bianca Gogel at (317) 800-1700 or bigogel@isda.in.gov.
ABOUT ISDA
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. The Director of ISDA is appointed by the Governor and is a member of the Governor's Cabinet. Administratively, ISDA reports to Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, who also serves as Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.