USDA to Conduct Survey of Organic Agriculture

This spring, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct the first-ever, wide-scale survey of organic farming in the United States to find out how the growth of organic farming is changing the face of U.S. agriculture. The 2007 Census of Agriculture counted more than 20,000 U.S. farms engaged in organic production.

The survey will look at many aspects of organic farming during the 2008 calendar year - from production and marketing practices to income and expenses. It will focus not only on operations that are currently engaged in organic production but also on those making the transition to organic agriculture.

USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail the survey in early May to all known organic producers in the United States, who are asked to respond by June 17. NASS will publish results in winter 2009. Participants can mail back their forms or complete the survey online at www.agcensus.usda.gov.

For more information about the Organic Production Survey, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call (800) 727-9540.