ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 5, 2009

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR 2009 ORGANIC COST-SHARE PROGRAM

BISMARCK – The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) is now accepting applications for the 2008-09 National Organic Cost Share Program through September 30, 2009.

“This program enables organic producers, processors and handlers to recoup some of their organic certification costs for federal fiscal year 2009,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “To qualify, applicants must have been certified to National Organic Program standards between Oct. 1, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2009, and their certified operation must be located in North Dakota.”

Goehring said applicants could get 75 percent of their organic certification costs up to $750.

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.

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).

Goehring also announced the deadline for submitting applications for the 2007-08 program has been extended to Sept. 30. Information is available on the NDDA website.

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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.