Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance to Facilitate
Organic Cost Share Program in Michigan

The 2008 Farm Bill included a cost- share program for certified organic farmers. For 2009, this program was offered to organic producers in Michigan through the Michigan Department of Agriculture. This year, due to budget constraints, the MDA is not able to offer this program, even though the funds are from the USDA. They have, however,  entered into an agreement that will allow Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance (MOFFA) to manage the program, allowing our state’s organic farmers to again get the cost share to reimburse part of their organic certification costs.

Between August 4 and September 8, 2010, MOFFA will be accepting applications from Organic Producers for this Cost-share program. To qualify for this cost-share program, organic growers must be certified by a USDA accredited organic certification agency. The program authorizes a payment of 75% of the certification costs, up to $750.  Growers must provide a copy of their organic certification dated between October 1, 2009 and September 1, 2010, and a receipt for payment for certification. MOFFA will confirm these documents with organic certifiers, then send the check for a percentage of the cost of certification to those applicants who qualify.

All known certified organic farmers will get a letter with instructions and forms to apply for the Cost-Share program. The information, with downloadable forms, will also be available at the MOFFA website in the near future. Because there is a very short timetable for this program, MOFFA encourages organic producers to get their documents in order and send in the application as soon as possible after the start date.

Click this link to download a general letter to growers about the cost share program.  You will need a PDF viewer to open the file.