With the second highest number of certified organic farms in the U.S., Wisconsin is a national leader in organic crop and livestock production. Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2005 Status Report — a new report from the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems — provides details on Wisconsin”s role in organic agricultural production, as well as opportunities and challenges in the organic marketplace.

The report includes information on state government involvement in organic agricultural production, processing and marketing, and the integrity of organic standards. It highlights the action plan developed by the Governor”s Task Force on Organic Agriculture, which was charged in 2004 with developing recommendations to strengthen Wisconsin”s organic industry. It also lists key state, university and nonprofit organizations supporting organic agriculture in Wisconsin, and summarizes many UW-Madison organic research projects.

“The organic market has been growing rapidly for the past ten years, and is expected to keep up this pace into the foreseeable future,” said Brent McCown, director of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. “While Wisconsin is a leader in organic agriculture, we can further benefit from this growth through increased state support and research that will help organic farmers, processors and marketers.”

Facts and figures from this report include:

• Based on 2003 figures, Wisconsin is the top-ranking state in the U.S. for organic livestock production, with 33 percent of the nation”s organic milk cows. Wisconsin ranks first in the nation for layer hen production and second for corn, oats, and alfalfa hay production, as well as total hay and silage acres.
• In 2002, over $20 million worth of organic products were sold by Wisconsin farms, and the average 2004 net farm income for certified organic farmers in Wisconsin was 25 percent higher than the average net income reported for all Wisconsin farms. In 2004, Wisconsin organic dairy farms earned $150,000 in revenues, on average.
• In 2005, organic milk buyers offered base prices in Wisconsin ranging from $20 to $23 per hundredweight, which was substantially higher than the $13.35 to $14.70 range paid for conventional milk that year. While organic dairies in New England were paid even higher base prices, their profits were lower primarily due to higher feed costs.

“Growing demand for organic food represents a tremendous opportunity for Wisconsin,” said McCown. “We have the ability to support more organic dairy farmers and increase production to meet the demand for milk. We could do more to add value to other organic crops, such as fruits and vegetables, by developing our processing infrastructure.”

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2005 Status Report is available on the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems web site: www.cias.wisc.edu. Print copies are available for $3 each. Contact Trish Haza at (608)262-5200 or phaza@wisc.edu for more information.