Memo

United States
Department of
Agriculture

DATE:

September 12, 2021

Farm Production
And Conservation
(FPAC)

TO:

Julie A. Wise
OMB Desk Officer

Farm Service
Agency (FSA)

THROUGH: Ruth Brown
USDA Information Collection Officer

1400 Independence
Avenue, SW
Stop 0540
Washington, DC
20250-0540

Jamie A. White

FROM:

Jamie White
FSA Acting Deputy Administrator Farm Programs

Digitally signed
by JAMIE WHITE
Date: 2021.09.14
14:03:33 -05'00'

SUBJECT:
Request for Emergency Approval for a New Information Collection
Package—Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP)
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting an emergency approval on a collection of
information necessary to implement the Organic and Transitional Education and
Certification Program (OTECP) because we could not comply with the normal clearance
under the Paperwork Reduction Act to obtain OMB approval, and it is essential to the
mission of USDA for work to support farmers with organic agriculture. USDA directed
FSA to implement OTECP to assist certified organic operations and transitional
operations, who incur significant costs to obtain or renew USDA organic certification
each year. The economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made
obtaining and renewing USDA organic certification financially challenging for many
operations and make it necessary for use to request OMB approval through and
emergency approval. USDA has determined there are available funds from the CARES
Act (CARES Act; Division B, Title I, Pub. L. 116–136) that remain available until
expended to use to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus by providing support
for agricultural producers impacted by coronavirus, including producers of specialty
crops, producers that supply local food systems, including farmers markets, restaurants,
and schools, and livestock producers, including dairy producers.
The Notice of funds availability (NOFA) will be published in the Federal Register to
provide guidance and notify applicants of the two sign-up periods; the sign-up dates will
be finalized when we receive clearance for the NOFA and the emergency PRA approval.
The Secretary announced this as a summer start; we will start taking applications as soon
as possible. OBPA requested that OMB clear the NOFA by Monday, September 20. Up
to 13,250 applicants are expected to apply for OTECP.
FSA needs to collect the following information from applicants:
•

The applicant’s certified organic operation name and certification
identification number (not required for transitional operations);

•
•

The applicant’s eligible expenses; and
Other cost share that was previously received for those expenses by the
applicant, excluding any cost share provided through the Organic
Certification Cost Share Program.

Applicants must submit form FSA-883, Organic and Transitional Education and
Certification Program (OTECP). Applicants must also have the following forms on file
with FSA:
•
•

AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet, and
SF-3881, ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form.

We are requesting emergency approval of a new information collection package as soon
as possible in order to quickly provide additional assistance to certified operations and
transitional operations eligible for OTECP.
If there are any questions or concerns, please call Deirdre Holder at 202-205-5851 or
Mary Ann Ball at 202-720-4283.