New USDA data offers in-depth look at organic farming

Organic farms and ranches in the USA have higher average sales and higher average production expenses than farms in the USA overall, according to results of the 2008 Organic Production Survey released by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. “This was USDA’s first wide-scale survey of organic producers, and it was undertaken in direct response to the growing interest in organics among consumers, farmers, businesses, policymakers and others,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. “The information being released will be an important building block for future program and policy development.”
 

The survey counted 14,540 farms and ranches that were either USDA certified organic or were exempt from certification because their sales totaled less than 5000 $. These operations comprised 4.1 million acres (almost 1,7 million ha) of land, of which 1.6 million acres (about 650,00 ha) were harvested cropland and 1.8 million acres (about 730,000 ha) were pasture or rangeland. While there were organic farms or ranches in all 50 states, nearly 20 % of the operations were in California. California also led the nation in organic sales, with 1.15 billion $ – or 36 % of all US sales. Nationwide, 2008 organic sales totaled 3.16 billion $, including 1.94 billion $ in crops sales and 1.22 billion $ in sales of livestock, poultry and their products.
 

Most US organic producers sold their products locally, with 44 % of sales taking place less than 100 miles (about 160 km)  from the farm. Nearly 83 % of organic sales were to wholesale channels, including processors, millers and packers. Just over 10 % of sales were direct to retail operations, including supermarkets. Only 7 % of sales were direct to consumers, via farm stands, farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture and other arrangements. Complete results of the 2008 Organic Production Survey are available here