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FIRST STATEWIDE STATUS REPORT RELEASED ON MICHIGAN'S ORGANIC AGRICULTURE EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The survey results are in -- organic farming is serious business in Michigan. "This is the first statewide, comprehensive status report on organic agriculture that presents data about Michigan's organic agriculture community," said Jim Bingen, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) researcher and the report's lead author. "The results are very illuminating and provide us with the critical information we need to support the growth and diversification of Michigan organic production and marketing moving forward." "Organic Agriculture in Michigan: 2006 Survey Report" is part of a collaborative project by Michigan State University (MSU) and the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) -- The Transition to Organic in Michigan: Production and Marketing Constraints and Opportunities -- funded by a special research grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify opportunities for more Michigan fruit and vegetable growers to participate in the emergent market for organic produce. Carol Osborne, MOFFA project coordinator, and Emily Reardon, academic specialist in Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies at MSU, collaborated with Bingen on the report. "With 45,500 certified organic acres and projected growth trends, Michigan is poised to play an even greater role in organic production, particularly related to organic fruits and vegetables," Bingen said. "Michigan already leads the upper Midwest in the number of certified organic acres devoted to fruits and vegetables, and we are actively exploring ways to expand this important market." According to a recent USDA survey, the number of certified organic acres in the United States grew by 63 percent from 1997 to 2005; Michigan certified organic farmland increased by 166 percent over the same period. And between 1997 and 2002, Michigan's total certified organic bean acreage more than doubled and acres of organic grains more than tripled. A national comparison of certified organic operations shows that Michigan is among the top 20 states in total organic acreage and 12th in the number of certified organic farms. Michigan is first in the number of organic spelt acres, second in organic beans and eighth in organic fruit. Eighty percent of Michigan's certified organic cropland produces beans and grains, 8 percent hay/silage; and 5 percent fruits and vegetables. The remaining 7 percent is used for cover crops and other uses. "The survey information will allow us to gain a better understanding of our organic community in terms of the types of crops grown, farm size and location, production, marketing and policy issues," said MOFFA's Osborne. "It will also help us build a better food system for Michigan that connects local organic farmers with Michigan citizens looking for quality food that is good for us and the earth." Based on survey feedback, report recommendations include conducting a biennial census of organic agriculture to assess the state's organic farm progress, investigating barriers to certification for Michigan farmers who follow organic practices, researching soil fertility management strategies specific to organic farms, advocating for policies and programs to support the organic community, and promoting the economic and environmental benefits of organic farming for Michigan agriculture. A copy of the 34-page report is available as a PDF at www.moffa.org <http://www.moffa.org/> . For further information, please contact Jim Bingen at [log in to unmask] or 517-353-1905. #vo# The Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station is one of the largest research organizations at Michigan State University. Founded in 1888, the organization funds the work of nearly 400 scientists in five colleges at MSU to enhance agriculture, natural resources, and families and communities in Michigan. The Lansing-based Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance was created in 1992 as a non-profit organization to create public awareness about valuing and choosing organically grown food produced locally and the need for more decentralized food systems that allow for greater participation and choice by all citizens. Vicki Morrone Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist Michigan State University C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems 303 Natural Resources Bldg. East Lansing, MI 48824 517-353-3542 517-282-3557 (cell) 517-353-3834 (fax) http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/ http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/ If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html