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This message is a reminder for eligible Michigan organic handlers and producers to submit their applications for organic cost share. The deadline October 1, 2012! Reimbursements will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are exhausted or the application postmark deadline of Oct. 1 is reached, whichever comes first. The applications and instruction can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/mdard-organic The following letter was written by STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT about this opportunity- Dear Organic Handler or Producers: The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is pleased to announce that certification cost share assistance will be available to eligible Michigan organic handlers and producers for the period of October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2012. The program is offered on behalf of the USDA National Organic Cost Share Program which is authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill. This year we have been given special authorization to accept applications for those who missed the opportunity to participate in certification cost share assistance for the period of October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011. You also welcome to apply for cost share reimbursement for the period of October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012. Enclosed please find an application for cost share reimbursement as well as instructions on how to register as a vendor for the State of Michigan, if you have not previously done so. Your operation must have been inspected and certified by a National Organic Program (NOP) accredited certifying agent during this specified time period in order to qualify. MDARD is authorized to pay 75% of the certification and user costs up to $750 per certification. Allowable costs are indicated on the enclosed instruction pages. A separate application and documentation is required for each certification and year for which you are requesting reimbursement. You must register as a vendor with the state of Michigan and sign up to receive your payment via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). It is recommended that you begin this process immediately! Failure to do so or to provide any of the required documentation will result in the rejection of your application. Your application along with all required supporting documentation must be postmarked on or before October 1, 2012. Applications postmarked after October 1, 2012 will NOT be accepted. An application and instructions can be downloaded at http://www.michigan.gov/mdard-organic. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Jeanette Towsley at (517) 241-2978<tel:%28517%29%20241-2978> or via email at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. If you would like to access a searchable archive of the all the previous Mich-Organic listserv postings copy this URL and paste in your browser address field http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html -- Sowmya Surapur Lyman Briggs College Michigan State University Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Tel. 616 540 8343 If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html