USDA Organic Survey Deadline Approaches

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting the 2014 Organic Survey, a survey of all known organic producers that are certified, exempt from certification, or transitioning to certified organic production in the United States. I would like to thank all that received the questionnaire and have returned it. If you have not returned the questionnaire please complete it online via a secure website or return the questionnaire by mail by April 3rd. Federal law (Title 7, U.S. Code) requires all producers that received a form to respond and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential. We will begin telephoning those that have not returned the questionnaire on April 6. We appreciate your cooperation.

The results of the 2014 Organic Survey will include livestock inventory, acreage, value of production, expenses, production practices, marketing channels, and value added product sales for 2014. Your responses will provide important and detailed information to help determine the economic impact of organic production. This information will help USDA develop programs and services for organic crop and livestock producers.

This is our second survey that focuses on all certified organic and exempt organic producters in the United States. The first was in 2008. We also did a 2011 survey that focused on only certified organic production. The 2007 and 2012 Censuses of Agriculture also collected information about organic production. The 2012 Census of Agriculture showed there were 231 organic farms in Massachusetts: 131 certified and 100 exempt. These farms sold $26.2 million of organic products, up from $17.5 in 2007. You can find all the complete report at www.agcensus.usda.gov.

We appreciate your cooperation on the 2014 Organic Survey and all NASS surveys. If you have any questions you can contact me at gary_keough@nass.usda.gov.