In a limited win for organic producers nationwide, the controversial budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress on July 4, 2025, includes long-awaited funding for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). The measure reverses earlier budget cuts and reinstates critical support for growers navigating the costs of USDA organic certification.

Key Cost-Share Highlights:

• $8 million annually for seven years has been approved to restore OCCSP to its previous funding levels under the 2018 Farm Bill.
• Producers can once again apply for federal reimbursement of certification expenses in 2025.
• While this funding ensures the program’s short-term viability, organic advocates emphasize that current levels fall short of real costs, especially for small-scale growers.

Other Organic Wins:

• Organic Transition Initiative (OTI): Maintained at $5 million per year for six years to support transitioning farms.
• Organic Data Initiative (ODI): Receives a $10 million boost distributed over six years—though no new funds are allocated for 2025.
• Technology Infrastructure Funding: $6 million committed to bolster fraud prevention and improve data systems supporting USDA organic oversight.

What’s Missing: Despite these gains, many priorities—such as expanded funding for dairy data collection, organic market research, and stronger appropriations for the National Organic Program—remain unresolved. Advocates like the National Organic Coalition are pushing for these to be addressed in the next full Farm Bill reauthorization. [Read more on the topic from the National Organic Coalition here.]

As the organic community celebrates this partial restoration, continued advocacy will be essential to ensure permanent and adequate support for a growing sector committed to sustainability, transparency, and integrity.

A Note to Our Clients: At the time of publishing this news blast, OneCert has not yet received official word regarding when and how OCCSP applications will open for the 2025 certification year. We will share any new information as soon as it becomes available.