Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Riley Call On USDA To Quickly Release FY25 And FY26 Cost Share Funding For The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program

Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Riley Call On USDA To Quickly Release FY25 And FY26 Cost Share Funding For The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program

Mar 20, 2026

The Senator and Congressman Calls for the Full Reimbursement Levels Authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Congressman Josh Riley (D-NY) called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to promptly release Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026 funding for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) at the full reimbursement levels authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill.

In a letter to Secretary Rollins, Gillibrand and Riley wrote, "FY25 OCCSP funds still have not been released, and accordingly it is imperative that the U.S. Department of Agriculture open applications for both FY25 and FY26 expeditiously to provide farmers in this growing industry the certainty and support they need."

The members highlighted that demand for organic products has surged in recent years, with sales more than doubling over the past decade. Despite this growth, farmers continue to face challenges transitioning from conventional to organic production.

The OCCSP, administered by the USDA's Farm Service Agency, helps offset these costs by covering up to 75 percent of organic certification expenses. Eligible expenses can include application and inspection fees, costs related to international equivalency requirements, inspector travel, user fees, sales assessments, and postage.

Gillibrand and Riley urged Secretary Rollins to release both FY25 and FY26 funding without delay so that New York's organic farmers can continue feeding our state and the nation.

New York consistently ranks among the top ten states in organic agricultural production, with more than 1,400 certified organic farms. National demand for organic food has continued to grow, reaching $71.6 billion in sales in 2024. The OCCSP supports both existing organic farmers and those transitioning into organic dairy and specialty crop markets, helping New York producers meet this rising demand.

The full letter can be read HERE.

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