Organic acreage on the rise
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Published
9/22/2017
ORGANIC ACREAGE TICKS UP, FINALLY: Amid growing concerns about fraud in organic imports and supply shortages, the USDA's 2016 organic production survey has some good news for the industry. U.S. organic farmland passed 5 million acres for the first time last year, a 15 percent increase over the number of certified acres reported in 2014 and up 23 percent since the department started reporting in 2008. And unlike the 2015 increase in acres, which was attributed almost entirely to one cattle operation in Alaska, the 2016 numbers show broad growth in organic farms across the country. California, which holds the distinction as the state with the most organic farms, saw a 35 percent jump in certified organic farmland between 2015 and 2016, while Wisconsin and New York - which have the second and third most farms - saw a 10,000 and 30,000 acre increase, respectively.
A murky future: While the numbers are promising, the industry still has a long way to go. The 5 million organic acres account for about half a percent of U.S. farm land, while organic products are about 7 percent of grocery sales - a huge disparity that is forcing some companies to rely on imports, which are harder to police and have pushed prices of some crops down.
What's more, the 2016 survey doesn't provide information on land transitioning to organic production, a three-year process. More here.
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