Oregon Tilth's Policy Recommendations for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program

TO CREATE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE FOR THIS VITAL PROGRAM, OUR POLICY SOLUTIONS ARE ADVISED AS FOLLOWS:

I. INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE OCCSP

A. Reinstate the 75% cap

B. Increase maximum reimbursement to $1,500 per scope

C. Allow more organic and transitional costs incurred during certification to be reimbursed

II. ORGANIC CERTIFIERS TO APPLY AND ADMINISTER THE COST SHARE PROGRAM

A. Organic certifiers partner with the USDA and state agencies to manage the OCCSP program on behalf of their clients

B. Organic certifiers to administer the OCCSP in full for all their clients

C. Compensate certifiers for the staffing and material expenses necessary to support program success via partnerships or administration

III. STREAMLINE AND INCREASE COMMUNICATION EFFORTS

A. Organic certifiers should enhance and expand communications efforts to raise awareness and educate producers on the cost share program

B. The OCCSP should be simplified, asking those applying only relevant information

C. Certifiers should provide inspectors with cost share information and materials to spread awareness and usage of the program

D. Offer funding to certifiers that offsets outreach and education campaigns and materials