Who Do I Contact?
- For application inquiries: certifiedorganic@nofany.org
Certification Timeline
NOFA-NY strives to complete the certification process on a new application within 20-24 weeks of receipt of a complete application and will guide you along the way. We understand that you may still require certification within a short time frame or by a certain deadline. In these cases, please call us at 607.724.9851 and ask about our Expedited Certification Program.
Certification Fees
Your total cost of certification in the first year will come from three main fees:
- New Applicant Fee: A one-time set up fee, paid when you apply.
- Annual Certification Fee:
- Livestock, Crops, and Wild Crop producers’ certification fees are due upon submission of completed application. This fee is based on either projected Gross Organic Sales of your NOFA-NY certified products for the coming year or Gross Organic Sales based on prior year income for existing certified operations. For a full breakdown, see the 2026 Fee Determination Form.
- Handling/Processor operations have a different fee and a sales assessment on prior year’s gross organic sales. For more information on handling fees, please see the 2026 Fee Determination for Handlers Form.
- Distributors pay a base certification fee, and a percentage of organic sales assessment. Please see the 2026 Fee Determination Form for Distributors to calculate costs.
- Annual Inspection Fee: Crops, Wild Crops, & Livestock producers have an annual flat rate inspection fee based on their scope of certification. Handling/Processors and Distributors operations’ inspection fee requires an inspection deposit. After inspection takes place, they are billed for the remaining cost. Any additional inspections required will be billed to the producer.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program
Wondering about your Organic Certification Cost Share reimbursement?
If you’re a certified organic farmer, rancher, or processor/handler, here’s the key update:
✅ No action is needed right now.
The USDA has not yet released the 2025 cost share funds. They’re completing a final administrative step, and the timeline for release is still uncertain.
We’re monitoring the situation closely and will share updates as soon as they’re available.
About the Organic Certification Cost Share Program
This USDA program helps organic operations offset part of their certification expenses. In previous years, the program reimbursed 75% of certification costs, up to $750 per scope—with scopes including crops, wild crops, livestock, and processing/handling. USDA has not yet announced the 2025 reimbursement levels.
Organic operations can apply through their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office or participating state departments of agriculture.
What should you do now?
Just sit tight! We’ll keep you informed and let you know as soon as it’s time to submit your reimbursement application.