{"status":200,"message":"Success","data":{"id":"294d2203-c507-5309-9608-45da7312f6fa","title":"Organic Certification Cost Share Program","identifiers":{"systemId":{"registry":{"code":"opp:opengrants:system","url":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/registries/opp-opengrants-system.json"},"id":"ece31816-4074-41c9-8d67-b9ea55516166"},"otherIds":{"opp:opengrants:program":{"registry":{"code":"opp:opengrants:program","url":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/registries/opp-opengrants-program.json"},"id":"vt:aafm-organic-certification-cost-share-program"}}},"status":{"value":"custom","customValue":"Confirm with agency","description":"Varies — check official page"},"description":"VAAFM passes through USDA Agricultural Marketing Service funds that reimburse certified organic operations for up to 75% of direct certification costs, up to $750 per certification scope (crops, livestock, wild crops and handling). Allowable costs include application and inspection fees, certification and user fees, postage and State Organic Program fees. As of an October 8, 2026 update, states had not yet received USDA funding; when it arrives it will cover fees paid in 2025 and 2026.","funding":{"details":"Up to 75% of certification costs, maximum $750 per scope","maxAwardAmount":{"amount":"750.00","currency":"USD"}},"funders":{"primary":{"id":"f7f1023e-c06e-5187-87f5-6a4712225202","name":"Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets","identifiers":{"otherIds":{"org:opengrants:funder":{"registry":{"code":"org:opengrants:funder","url":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/registries/org-opengrants-funder.json"},"id":"53f6ce29-a928-4910-a84b-5bbdb73974a2","allIds":[{"id":"53f6ce29-a928-4910-a84b-5bbdb73974a2","status":"active"}]},"org:us:vt:agency":{"registry":{"code":"org:us:vt:agency","url":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/registries/org-us-vt-agency.json"},"id":"AAFM"}}}}},"keyDates":{"otherDates":{"cycle":{"name":"Application cycle","eventType":"other","details":"Annual qualification period (October 1 - September 30); reimbursement is first come, first served. The funding calendar lists the program under August, but the October 8, 2026 update says USDA funding had not yet been received."}}},"acceptedApplicantTypes":[{"value":"for_profit_small_business","description":"Business"},{"value":"for_profit_not_small_business","description":"Business"}],"source":"https://agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/organiccostshare","customFields":{"contactInfo":{"name":"contactInfo","fieldType":"object","value":{"email":"AGR.Helpdesk@vermont.gov"},"description":"Program contact","schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/contactInfo"},"eligibilityCriteria":{"name":"eligibilityCriteria","fieldType":"object","value":{"details":"Certified organic producers and handlers who paid certification fees to become newly certified or re-certified for specific scopes under the NOP. Transition costs are not covered, and suspended, revoked or withdrawn operations are ineligible. Certified organic producers and handlers newly certified or re-certified under the USDA National Organic Program."},"description":"Who is eligible, in the funder's words","schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/eligibilityCriteria"},"additionalInfo":{"name":"additionalInfo","fieldType":"object","value":{"url":"https://agriculture.vermont.gov/grants","description":"Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets grants page"},"description":"Where the agency publishes its programs","schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/additionalInfo"},"fundingInstrument":{"name":"fundingInstrument","fieldType":"string","value":"grant","description":"grant, loan, grant+loan, tax credit, rebate, in-kind or other","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"fundingSource":{"name":"fundingSource","fieldType":"string","value":"Federal","description":"State, Federal, Federal and State, or Other","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"lastSyncedAt":{"name":"lastSyncedAt","fieldType":"string","value":"2026-11-04T07:11:23Z","description":"When the OpenGrants record data behind this opportunity was last refreshed (UTC)","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"stateCode":{"name":"stateCode","fieldType":"string","value":"VT","description":"USPS code of the state whose agency offers this funding","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"agencyKey":{"name":"agencyKey","fieldType":"string","value":"aafm","description":"Portal key of the administering agency","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"agencyAbbrev":{"name":"agencyAbbrev","fieldType":"string","value":"AAFM","description":"Administering agency abbreviation","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"agencyUrl":{"name":"agencyUrl","fieldType":"string","value":"https://agriculture.vermont.gov/","description":"Administering agency website","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"categories":{"name":"categories","fieldType":"array","value":["Agriculture"],"description":"Portal categories","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"applicantTypes":{"name":"applicantTypes","fieldType":"array","value":["Business"],"description":"Portal applicant types","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"applicantTypesNotes":{"name":"applicantTypesNotes","fieldType":"string","value":"Certified organic producers and handlers newly certified or re-certified under the USDA National Organic Program.","description":"Notes on who may apply","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"purpose":{"name":"purpose","fieldType":"string","value":"Reimburses part of the fees Vermont organic producers and handlers pay for USDA organic certification.","description":"One-line purpose","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"geography":{"name":"geography","fieldType":"string","value":"Vermont","description":"Geographic limits within the state","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"fundingSourceNotes":{"name":"fundingSourceNotes","fieldType":"string","value":"USDA Agricultural Marketing Service organic certification cost share funds administered by VAAFM.","description":"Notes on the source of funds","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"fundingMethod":{"name":"fundingMethod","fieldType":"string","value":"Reimbursement(s)","description":"Reimbursement(s), Advance(s), Advances & Reimbursement(s) or Other","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"estimatedAmounts":{"name":"estimatedAmounts","fieldType":"string","value":"Up to 75% of certification costs, maximum $750 per scope","description":"Estimated award amounts, as published","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"howToApply":{"name":"howToApply","fieldType":"string","value":"Direct application: mail the application, a current W-9, a copy of your organic certification and itemized receipts to VAAFM's Organic Reimbursement Program; Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF)-certified operations use an expedited process through NOFA-VOF.","description":"How to apply","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"electronicSubmission":{"name":"electronicSubmission","fieldType":"string","value":false,"description":"Where applications are submitted (url: … or email: …)","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"cycle":{"name":"cycle","fieldType":"string","value":"Annual qualification period (October 1 - September 30); reimbursement is first come, first served. The funding calendar lists the program under August, but the October 8, 2026 update says USDA funding had not yet been received.","description":"Application cycle pattern","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"nextDeadlineDisplay":{"name":"nextDeadlineDisplay","fieldType":"string","value":"Varies — check official page","description":"What the portal shows as the next deadline","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"deadlineSource":{"name":"deadlineSource","fieldType":"string","value":"record-live","description":"editorial, record or cycle","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"stringsAttached":{"name":"stringsAttached","fieldType":"string","value":"Reimbursement depends on USDA funding reaching the state, is first come, first served, and covers only allowable USDA organic certification costs (no late, membership or consultant fees).","description":"The catch: match, reporting, restrictions","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"programSlug":{"name":"programSlug","fieldType":"string","value":"aafm-organic-certification-cost-share-program","description":"Stable program slug within the portal","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"programUrl":{"name":"programUrl","fieldType":"string","value":"https://opengrants.io/grants-in-vermont/#p-aafm-organic-certification-cost-share-program","description":"Program card on the portal page","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"opengrantsListingUrl":{"name":"opengrantsListingUrl","fieldType":"string","value":"https://agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/organiccostshare","description":"Listing URL on the bound OpenGrants record","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"bindingMode":{"name":"bindingMode","fieldType":"string","value":"record","description":"record, upstream, pending-import or none","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"verifiedOn":{"name":"verifiedOn","fieldType":"string","value":"2026-11-03","description":"Date the official page was last checked","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"cardStatus":{"name":"cardStatus","fieldType":"string","value":"published","description":"published, needs_review or retired","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"}},"createdAt":"2026-11-04T05:38:06.84519+00:00","lastModifiedAt":"2026-11-09T12:40:53Z","competitions":[],"awards":[]}}