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Her ye here ye all you CERTIFIED organic farmers!! If you paid for organic certification for one or more USDA organic certifications this past year (such as one for poultry and the other for vegetables) then you are eligible to receive some of that money back from the US Government. Michigan Department of Ag and Natural Resources is running this program so you can apply for reimbursement through them. Note that each certificate is eligible for cost share. You can fill out a separate application for each certificate but mail then in one envelope. Clip each certification application separately to assure accurate processing. You may have received an invitation to participate in this program through the mail but if you did not, then NO WORRIES! You can get all the info online. You will need a filled-in application form found at this link http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1568_37188-333288--,00.html All applications must be postmarked no later than October 1, 2016. Applications submitted after the October 1st deadline cannot be accepted - this is a requirement of our Finance Division and is not flexible. To receive your cost share of up to $750 or 75% of what you paid... YOU WILL NEED a copy of your organic certificate dated within the last year A copy of receipt of the money you paid to your certifying agency Complete form found at the above web site. To register as a state vendor so a check can be deposited to your bank account. Note you only need to sign up one time, once signed up this year you can use that sign in all following years. Find the forms and instructions at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2016_Cost_Share_Application__Instructions_Revised_526103_7.pdf The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is pleased to announce the availability of organic cost share assistance for handlers and producers who have incurred certification expenses during the period of October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. The program is offered on behalf of the USDA National Organic Cost Share Program which is authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill. You must register as a vendor with the state of Michigan and sign up to receive your payment via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). If you do not have access to the internet you will need to complete form W-9 (see below). 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, 2016. If you have any questions or would like any additional information please feel free to contact Josh Grant at 517-284-5789 or via email at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. To get started to apply for your costshare of USDA organic certification click on application and instructions and then follow the directions. * 2016 Organic Cost Share Application & Instructions<http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2016_Cost_Share_Application__Instructions_Revised_526103_7.pdf> * W-9<http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/W-9_491146_7.pdf> * A listing of National Organic Program Accredited Certifying Agents can be found at this USDA website<http://www.ams.usda.gov/resources/organic-certifying-agents> * Link to USDA for more details on the National Organic Cost Share Program<http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/occsp> * Michigan.gov Home<http://www.michigan.gov/> * MDARD Home<http://www.michigan.gov/mdard> * State Web Sites<http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-3103-4071--,00.html> * FOIA<http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-72635-357737--,00.html> * Office of Regulatory Reinvention<http://www.michigan.gov/orr> * Open Michigan<http://www.michigan.gov/openmichigan> Thank you! Robin Robin R. Rosenbaum, Plant Industry Section Manager Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division P.O. Box 30017 Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 284-5646 - Office (800) 292-3939 - MDARD Customer Service Center Vicki Morrone Organic farming specialist Center For Regional Food Systems at MSU 480 Wilson Rd Rm 303 East Lansing, MI 48824 +011-517-353-3542-office +011-517-282-3557 (U.S. cell) Www.MichiganOrganic.Msu.edu sorrone11 (Skype) 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