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Page 6A, The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, May 25,2022 USD A Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs of Organic, Transitioning Producers Special to the Ledger Athens, GA, May 16, 2022 - Agricultural producers and han dlers who are certified organic, along with producers and handlers who are transitioning to organic production, can now apply for the U.S. Department of Agricul ture’s (USDA) Organic and Transitional Ed ucation Certification Program (OTECP) and Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which help producers and handlers cover the cost of organic certification, along with other related expenses. Applications for OTECP and OCCSP are both due October 31, 2022. “By helping with organic certification costs - long identified as a barrier to certifica tion - USDA has helped producers participate in new markets while in vesting in the long-term health of their opera tions,” said Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Arthur Tripp. “We launched the Or ganic and Transitional Education Certification Program to build on the support offered through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program and provide additional assistance to organic and transitioning producers weathering the contin ued market impacts of the COVID-19 pandem ic. This year, in response to stakeholder feedback, we have aligned the sig nup dates for these two organic programs and encourage Georgia producers to work with the local USDA Ser vice Centers and State agencies to complete the applications. We’re committed to making sure our Nation’s organic producers and handlers have the tools they need to continue positively shaping our local and regional food systems.” Cost Share for 2022 OTECP covers: • Certification costs for organic producers and handlers (25% up to $250 per category). • Eligible expenses for transitional produc ers, including fees for pre-certification inspec tions and development of an organic system plan (75% up to $750). • Registration fees for educational events (75% up to $200). • Soil testing (75% up to $100). Meanwhile, OCCSP covers 50% or up to $500 per category of certification costs in 2022. This cost share for certification is available for each of these catego ries: crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/ handling and State or ganic program fees. Producers can receive cost share through both OTECP and OCCSP. Both OTECP and OCCSP cover costs in curred from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. Producers have until October 31, 2022 to file applications, and FSA will make pay ments as applications are received. How to Apply To apply, producers and handlers should contact the Farm Ser vice Agency (FSA) at their local USDA Ser vice Center. As part of completing the OCCSP applications, producers and handlers will need to provide documen tation of their organic certification and eligi ble expenses. Organic producers and handlers may also apply for OC CSP through participat ing State agencies. Additional details can be found on the OTECP and OCCSP webpages. Opportunity for State Agencies FSA is accepting applications for State agencies to administer OCCSP through July 18, 2022. If a State depart ment of agriculture chooses to participate in OCCSP, both the State department of agricul ture and FSA County Offices in that State will accept OCCSP applications and make payments to eligible certified operations. However, the producer or handler may only receive OCCSP assis tance by either FSA or the participating State department of agricul ture. More Information OTECP builds upon OCCSP, providing additional relief to help producers during the pandemic. OTECP uses funds from the Coro- navirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act; OCCSP is funded through the Farm Bill. USDA has made other strides to assist organ ic producers. In 2022, USDA’s Risk Manage ment Agency (RMA) increased expansion limits for organic pro ducers with coverage through Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP). RMA also updated the insurance option to allow produc ers to report acreage as certified organic or transitioning, as long as organic certification was requested by the acreage reporting date. Also, this year, RMA introduced a new option - Micro Farm - through WFRP designed for producers with small-scale oper ations that sell locally, which includes organic producers. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris adminis tration, USDA is trans forming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer mar kets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and produc ers using climate smart food and forestry prac tices, making historic in vestments in infrastruc ture and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and commit ting to equity across the Department by remov ing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov. Barbara Jackson 229-869-1530 bjackson31701@gmail.com freshandtidycleaningllc.com Commercial and Residential FARM BUREAU INSURANCE Let the fireworks light up the sky like the 4 th of July! Call to enter our Freedom Fourth Drawing for a change to win a 32" Roku Smart TV! *No puchase necessary* Lee County Farm Bureau 229-759-2329 Home • Auto • Life • Bank Rick's Met Roofing Let US protest xowr HO Y o*r FO^tly For A^ifeti».e! LET US SAVE YOU MONEY! We Also Build RED IRON BUILDINGS Partners with nearly 100 Subcontractors Sells Most Metal Building Components 17 Colors To Choose From 26GA - 29 GA Available We Carry Putins, 1x4’s, screws, etc. Every Sheet Cut to Length: Everything You Need to Install! 2421 Hwy 19, Smithville, GA 31787 Email: ricksmetalroofing@gmail.com Call Today! (229) 815-1138, (229) 815-1140 Bessie Faye Potter - Birthday May 16,2022 Happy 80th birthday to our sweet, kind, and caring mother! We love you so very much! Wishingyou many, many more beautiful birthdays! With love and adoration Your Children UNG confers degrees for spring 2022 graduates Special to the Ledger For the spring 2022 semester, the University of North Georgia (UNG) awarded about 1,700 degrees and 25 certifi cates to graduates. About 1,300 graduates partici pated in the spring 2022 commencement ceremo nies held May 6-7 at the Convocation Center on UNG’s Dahlonega Cam pus. Graduates included: Casey Gregors of Lees burg, GA, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Keshundra Wright of Albany, GA, graduated with a Master of Science in Human Services De livery & Administration. Positioned in the fastest-growing region of the state, the Univer sity of North Georgia comprises five campus es united by a single mission focused on academic excellence and academic and co-cur ricular programs that develop students into leaders for a diverse and global society. The Uni versity of North Georgia is a University System of Georgia leadership insti tution and is The Mili tary College of Georgia. With almost 19,000 stu dents, the University of North Georgia is one of the state’s largest public universities. Kristina Marlowe Named to SNHU Dean’s List Edward Jones Salutes the courage and loyalty of our troops, now and in the past. Thank you. Greg Parrish Jr Financial Advisor 190 Oakland Pkwy Ste C Leesburg, GA 31763 229-883-0416 edwardjones.com Member SIPC Edward Jo lies MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING Special to the Ledger Kristina Marlowe of Leesburg has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Winter 2022 Dean’s List. Full-time undergrad uate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 are named to the Dean’s List. Southern New Hamp shire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with an 89- year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 165,000 learners world wide.