While the US$35 billion US organic industry continues to expand at a brisk pace, organic grain production is not keeping up with the growing demand for organic livestock feed and value-added food products, according to a new report on Wisconsin organic agriculture, The University of Wisconsin-Madison News reports.
"Although organic grain premiums are
strong, significant barriers prevent the transition of farmers and acreage to
fill the need for more organic grain," says Erin Silva, a report author
and assistant professor of plant pathology at UW-Madison.
"The three-year-long transition from
conventional to organic production, when farmers pay the extra costs of organic
management without receiving premium prices, is one example of a barrier that
might deter a grain farmer from switching to organic production."
‘Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2015
Status Report’ highlights possible strategies to increase the number of farms
and acres producing organic grain in our state. Examples of these strategies,
gleaned through interviews with organic business owners, include education and
technical support; programs and policies that reduce risk during the three-year
transition to organic farming; and pooling products, information and resources
through farmer networks.
In Wisconsin, there is high demand for
organic livestock feed because the state leads the nation in organic dairy and
beef production. Nearly three out of four organic farms in Wisconsin market
livestock and poultry, compared to about half of all organic farms nationwide.
Read more HERE.
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