This post is the seventh in a series of commentaries by NSAC staff on the President’s 2011 budget, released on February 1st. To read the overview by Executive Director Aimee Witteman click here. Look out in the following days for the final budget analysis on conservation programs.

The President’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2011 cuts some organic funds and increases others.

National Organic Program:  The President’s budget request for NOP is $10.08 million; a $3.11 million increase over last year’s enacted level. This increase includes an additional $2.11 million for regulatory review, enforcement, and equivalency agreements, and a one-time $1 million to assist accredited certifying agents in achieving compliance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives (ODI):  There is a total of $800,000 for ODI in the President’s budget request, split between the Agricultural Marketing Service ($300,000) and the National Agricultural Statistics Service ($500,000).  This request is $4.2 million short of the initiatives’ discretionary authority in FY 2011.

Organic Research Programs:  The President’s budget request cuts to funding for organic research.  For more information, check out our research budget drill down post.

Organic Certification Cost Share:  While the President’s budget request does not cut the National Organic Certification Cost Share (NOCCS) program, the request does cut the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program, which provides cost share assistance to the sixteen states not included under the NOCCS – the twelve Northeastern states plus Hawai‘i, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.  The proposal cuts the program from $15 million to $10 million in FY 2011, resulting in a cut of $500,000 for certification cost share funds for AMA states.