Congressman Panetta Signs Bipartisan Letter Expressing Serious Concerns with Changes to the Organic Certified Cost Share Program

Yesterday, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) joined House Agriculture Subcommittee Chairwoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) and several of his colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, expressing strong concern with recently announced changes to the Farm Service Agency's Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). The letter also asks for the maximum amount of assistance through the OCCSP.

The OCCSP helps small and mid-sized organic farm businesses to become certified organic. The costs associated with that type of certification include application fees, inspection fees, and state organic program fees. The process of becoming certified organic can be expensive, but it is an essential step for producers who are helping meet the growing demand for certified organic food in the United States.

On August 10, the Farm Service Agency unexpectedly amended the reimbursement rate and maximum assistance permitted under the program. That change makes it increasingly costly for certified organic growers, particularly small-scale producers, to maintain their certification.

"This change in the reimbursement rate was not anticipated by stakeholders, and we believe it directly contradicts the intent of the overwhelmingly bipartisan Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 which reauthorized and funded OCCSP… These amendments come at a difficult time for the agriculture sector, particularly for those small-scale producers who benefit most from cost share assistance," the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

"Earlier this month and without any advance warning, the USDA unexpectedly changed the reimbursement rate and maximum assistance permitted under the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. That modification not only is against the intent of the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill, but also it comes at a very difficult time for the agriculture sector, including organic farmers on the Central Coast. Democrats and Republicans are troubled by this amendment to a program that works so well for so many of the farmers we proudly represent," said Congressman Panetta. "That is why I will continue to work with my congressional colleagues to press the UDSA to restore the program so it can support organic farmers and ranchers."

A copy of the letter is available here.