New organic fee schedule for New Mexico takes effect Jan. 1

New organic fee schedule for New Mexico takes effect Jan. 1 (Las Cruces, New Mexico) – If you’re certified through the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) Organic Program, please be aware of a new fee schedule that takes effect Jan. 1. After many collaborative listening sessions with the organic community, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture has developed a new fee schedule to address the need for a self-sustaining fee structure for the organic program. The new fee schedule will encompass an application fee and an hourly fee to complete the certification process. The new rule also allows the department to charge mileage and per diem for inspectors’ travel. The New Mexico State University Board of Regents adopted the new rule 21.15.1 NMAC, Organic Agriculture, at its Oct. 5 meeting. The NMDA’s Organic Program is accredited through the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program and provides organic certification to farmers, ranchers and processors/handlers throughout New Mexico. The entire rule – including the new fee schedule – may be viewed on the NMDA website at http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/21.15.1-NMAC-Organic-Agriculure.pdf. At this time, the 2017 application should still be used. If you’re interested in applying for organic certification, please visit http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/marketing/organic-program/. For more information, please contact NMDA Organic Program Manager Stacy Gerk at 505-320-8590 or organic@nmda.nmsu.edu.