Insured Maine Crops - Organic
Organic Farming Practices Insurance Fact Sheet
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USDA To conduct first wide-scale survey of Organic Producers
Update: Survey results are now available online.
Concord, NH – The 2007 Census of Agriculture counted over 20,000 U.S. farms engaged in organic production. To learn more about how the growth of organic production is changing the face of U.S. agriculture, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will soon conduct its first wide-scale survey of organic agricultural producers and producers in transition to organic agriculture.
“The Organic Production Survey comes in direct response to the growing interest in organics among consumers, farmers, businesses and others,” said Gary Keough, director of the NASS New England Field Office. “This is an opportunity for organic producers to share their voices and help ensure the continued growth and sustainability of organic farming in the United States. This is especially important for the organic producers in our New England States because we second only to the California in number of organic farms. New England is also the sixth largest in organic acres and impressively third nationally in value of sales of organically produced commodities.”
The survey will look at all aspects of organic agriculture during the 2008 calendar year – from production and marketing practices, to income and expenses.
“The results will help shape future decisions regarding farm policy, funding allocations, availability of goods and services, community development and other key issues,” Keough noted. “In addition, the information can help producers make informed decisions about the future of their own farming operations.”
NASS will mail the Organic Production Survey in early May to all known organic producers in the United States. They are required to respond by June 17. Results are expected to be available in winter 2009.
“Participants can mail back their forms, but we encourage them to complete the survey online at www.agcensus.usda.gov. It’s convenient, it’s secure, and it saves the government money on return postage and data entry,” Keough said.
Survey participants are guaranteed by law (Title 7, U.S. Code) that their individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes data only in tabulated totals.
Used with permission of Gary Keough, director of the the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) New England Field Office.