Organic Cost Share Grant Program

The Organic Cost Share program is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) through a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program is part of the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP), which is designed to offset a portion of the expenses incurred by agricultural operations seeking and maintaining USDA organic certification. The funding opportunity is targeted toward Texas-based organic operations and is intended to reduce the financial burden associated with certification and renewal processes. The program supports the continued expansion and sustainability of organic agriculture by assisting producers, handlers, processors, distributors, and other agricultural businesses engaged in certified organic production and handling activities. Eligible applicants include Texas-based organic producers involved in crop production, livestock, or wild crop harvesting, as well as handlers and processors of organic agricultural products. Applicants must possess a current USDA organic certification to qualify for reimbursement under the program. The source materials clearly state that operations with suspended or revoked certifications are not eligible for participation. The reimbursement structure is tied specifically to certification expenses, meaning applicants must have already incurred eligible certification-related costs prior to applying for reimbursement. The program operates under NOCCSP rules and guidance established by USDA and references the USDA National Organic Program website for applicable regulations and additional certification resources. The program is currently closed, and the Texas Department of Agriculture has indicated that additional details will become available in 2026. The notice specifies that certifications from both 2025 and 2026 are anticipated to be included within a single future application cycle. Although no official application opening date or deadline has yet been announced for the next cycle, the language strongly indicates that the program is recurring and expected to reopen. Interested applicants are encouraged to subscribe to email notifications through a TDA-hosted form to receive updates and announcements when future application materials become available. Because the future cycle has not yet opened, applicants should monitor the TDA Organics webpage and related communications for release of updated guidance, eligibility details, and reimbursement procedures. The funding opportunity emphasizes coordination between TDA and the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to prevent duplicate reimbursement awards. The notice includes a warning that eligible operations may only receive one reimbursement per organic certificate or certification category from either TDA or FSA, but not both agencies simultaneously. TDA states that it will work directly with FSA to verify whether duplicate reimbursements have occurred. If duplicate payments are identified, the Farm Service Agency will be responsible for pursuing collection actions. This restriction is an important compliance requirement for applicants and should be carefully considered before submitting reimbursement requests through either agency. The source information does not provide detailed reimbursement caps, award ceilings, or total available program funding for the anticipated future cycle. Similarly, no scoring rubric, formal evaluation criteria, or detailed application components are currently available because the application process is not open. However, the available materials indicate that applicants will likely need to provide evidence of current USDA organic certification and documentation of eligible certification-related expenses. Since the opportunity is structured as a reimbursement program rather than a competitive discretionary grant, the review process is expected to focus primarily on eligibility verification, certification validity, and documentation completeness. Applicants seeking assistance or additional information may contact the Texas Department of Agriculture Grants Office. The listed contact person is Emily Daly, identified as a Grant Specialist. The source provides both a telephone number and a program email address for applicant support. In addition, the webpage includes references to TDA-GO support resources such as password reset assistance and dashboard help documents. Organizations seeking USDA organic certification through Texas may also access the TDA Organic Certification Program through the provided certification link. The overall program functions as a recurring state-administered reimbursement opportunity designed to support certified organic agricultural operations across Texas while maintaining compliance with federal NOCCSP requirements.