ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 8, 2009

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR ORGANIC COST-SHARE PROGRAM

BISMARCK – The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) is now accepting applications for the 2007-2008 National Organic Cost Share Program through May 30, 2009.

“North Dakota organic producers, processors and handlers can recoup the lesser of $750 or 75 percent of their initial or renewal organic certification costs for the 2008 federal fiscal year,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “To be eligible for this program, applicants must have been certified to National Organic Program standards between Oct. 1, 2007 and Sept. 30, 2008, and their certified operation must be located in North Dakota.”

Goehring said program information and application forms are available on the NDDA website at www.agdepartment.com  or the North Dakota Organic Advisory Board website www.ndorganics.nd.gov (click on Organic Certification Cost Share).

Applications must include a 2008 cost share application form, a copy of a dated certificate or letter from a certifier verifying certification between Oct. 1, 2007 and Sept. 30, 2008, a copy of the itemized billing statement documenting certification costs and a completed IRS Form W9.

Approved applications will not be processed for payment until funding is received from the USDA National Organic Program. The funding agreement for the 2008 program is still pending.

Applications for the 2008-09 cost-share program will be available following the 2007-08 program application period.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.