Certified organic acreage and operations, 2001

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2005

Billions of dollars

• U.S. organic food sales have grown between 17 and 21% each year since 1997 (total U.S. food sales over this time have grown in the range of 2-4% a year)

• Organic food sales represent approximately 2% of U.S. food sales

• Organic farms are about 0.5% of U.S. farms

– (Organic Trade Association’s 2004 Manufacturer Survey)

Certified organic acreageand operations, 2001

70-80

< 20

< 11-30

Certified organic farms, 2006

6

Certified Organic Farms, KY 2006

Why fewer organic farms in KY in 2003 than 2001?

• Before national standards came into effect (October 21, 2002)– Kentucky Department of Agriculture certified farms– Inexpensive certification– Relaxed standards– Encouraged certification at all income levels

• After national standards came into effect– Certification optional for farmers who sell

< $5,000 of organic product annually and direct market– Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) lost its certifier status;

farms had to certify out-of-state– Certification became more expensive, with more onerous

paperwork requirements

KDA regained certifierstatus in January 2006

• Very low fees– $125/yr (early applicants were eligible for

grants to further reduce fees)– Free farm inspections

• Rapid increase in certified organic farms– Now ~35, up from 16 in 2005

• Application backlog

University of Kentucky Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum

Interested in organic methods: 32/33

Certified Organic: 0/33

Grow organically: 7/33

Plan to certify: 10/33

Organic land

http://organic.kysu.edu