Agriculture Dept. Submits Information Collection to OMB for Review

Regs.gov: Department of Agriculture

Published March 25th, 2026

Detected March 28th, 2026

Summary

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) information collection to OMB for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Comments are requested on the necessity, utility, and burden of the collection, with a deadline of April 27, 2026.

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What changed

The Department of Agriculture has submitted an information collection requirement for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This submission seeks comments on the necessity, utility, accuracy of burden estimates, and methods to minimize the burden of collecting information from producers and handlers seeking or renewing organic certification. The specific information collection is identified by OMB Control Number 0560-0289.

Regulated entities, including individuals/households and state/local/tribal governments involved in organic certification, are encouraged to submit comments by April 27, 2026, via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. The agency is seeking input on whether the collection is necessary for proper agency function, has practical utility, and how to enhance its quality and minimize respondent burden. Failure to display a currently valid OMB control number means respondents are not required to respond.

What to do next

Submit comments on the OCCSP information collection by April 27, 2026, via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Review the necessity, utility, and burden estimates of the OCCSP information collection.
Identify ways to enhance the quality and minimize the burden of the information collection.

Source document (simplified)

Content

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are required regarding; whether the collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways
to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments regarding this information collection received by April 27, 2026 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations
for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following
website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using
the search function.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently
valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that
such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control
number.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP).

OMB Control Number: 0560-0289.

Summary of Collection: Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) provides cost share assistance to Individuals/Households known as producers
and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program
(NOP). The National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program (NOCCSP) is authorized under section 10606(d)(1) of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 7901 note), as amended by section 10004(c) of the Agricultural Act of
2014 (2014 Farm Bill; Pub. L. 113-79).

Need and Use of the Information: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides cost-share assistance, through FSA county offices and participating state agencies,
to organic producers or handlers who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program. The
information collected is needed to ensure that organic producers or handlers and State agencies are eligible for funding and
comply with applicable program regulations to ensure program integrity. Without this collection of information, FSA would
not be able to manage, monitor or provide cost-share assistance to eligible producers, handlers and or state agencies.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or Households; State, Local and Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 12,030.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Semi-annually; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 29.031.

Rachelle Ragland-Greene, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2026-05882 Filed 3-25-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-05-P