[Federal Register: August 18, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 159)]
[Notices]
[Page 51229]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au04-30]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture Marketing Service
[Docket Number TM-04-08]
Notice of Agricultural Management Assistance Organic
Certification Cost-Share Program
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Services, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This Notice invites eligible States to submit a Standard Form
424, Application for Federal Assistance, and to enter into a
Cooperative Agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for
the Allocation of Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds. The AMS has
allocated $1.0 million for this organic certification cost-share
program in Fiscal Year 2004. Funds will be available under this program
to 15 designated States to assist organic crop and livestock producers
certified by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited certifying
agents to the National Organic Program (NOP). Eligible States
interested in obtaining cost-share funds for their organic producers
will have to submit an Application for Federal Assistance, and will
have to enter into a cooperative agreement with AMS for the allocation
of such funds.
DATES: Completed applications for federal assistance along with signed
cooperative agreements must be received by October 4, 2004 in order to
participate in this program.
ADDRESSES: Applications for federal assistance and cooperative
agreements shall be requested from and submitted to: Robert Pooler,
Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/
TMP/NOP, Room 4008-South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-0264; Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-
7808; e-mail: bob.pooler@usda.gov. Additional information may be found
through the National Organic Program's homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing
Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TM/NOP, Room 4008-South,
Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0264;
Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808; e-mail:
bob.pooler@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Organic Certification Cost-Share
Program is part of the Agricultural Management Assistance Program
authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA), as amended, (7
U.S.C. 1524). Under the applicable FCIA provisions, the Department is
authorized to provide cost share assistance to producers in the States
of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah,
Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. This organic certification cost-
share program provides financial assistance to organic producers
certified to the National Organic Program authorized under the Organic
Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.)
To participate in the program, eligible States must complete a
Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, and enter into a
written cooperative agreement with AMS. The program will provide cost-
share assistance, through participating States, to organic crop and
livestock producers receiving certification or update of certification
by a USDA accredited certifying agent from October 1, 2004 through
September 30, 2005. The Department has determined that payments will be
limited to 75 percent of an individual producer's certification costs
up to a maximum of $500.00.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1524.
Dated: August 12, 2004.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-18848 Filed 8-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P