Last Monday, the USDA announced it would be assisting Nebraska's organic farmers with certification costs as part of a cost-share program.
Nebraskan organic farmers — who must be certified and comply with certain standards in order to sell, label or represent their products as "organic" — will receive an additional $60,000 for reimbursement to eligible participants.
The fund, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, is also intended to assist farmers in renewing their certification.
"This money is for our organic producers to become certified," said Christin Kamm, public information officer at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
Being certified, according to Steve Martin of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, is simply "abiding by the rules of the Organic Foods Production Act."
The act, according to Martin, "defines the rules of being a certified organic farmer."
"There are around 200 organic farmers in Nebraska," Martin said, "which is about average for the Midwest."
To be an organic farmer, Martin said, "they're looking at using the least amount of (inorganic) inputs and focusing on organic fertilizers and strategies for pest control."
Producers and handlers in Nebraska can receive reimbursements for up to 75 percent of certification costs or a maximum payment of $750 with the cost-share program, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
The costs of getting certified, however, can be "anywhere from four hundred to several thousand dollars."
Martin said the certification fee came with the introduction of the Organic Foods Production Act.
"The USDA created a way to get certified, and with that came an expense. This cost-share program is supposed to help organic producers get certified," he said.
The funds of the program will be reimbursed in the order applications are received, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, until all money is exhausted.
jacegatzemeyer@dailynebraskan.com
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