Certified organic farming resulted in more than $3.5 billion in sales of crops and livestock in 2011, according to the 2011 Certified Organic Production Survey released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
“This is the first time we have conducted a survey focused solely on the USDA-certified organic producers,” said Hubert Hamer, chairperson of NASS’s Agricultural Statistics Board. “With this survey’s results, policymakers will be able to better assess the Federal Crop Insurance program and its impact on the organic industry.”
Corn led organic field crops with $101.5 million in sales in 2011. Organic milk was the most popular organic livestock product, selling $765 million last year. Chicken eggs and broiler chickens also brought in $276 million and $115 million, respectively.
To review the 2011 Certified Organic Production Survey, visit http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1859.