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Organic Agriculture: Maps and Images Gallery: Results from the 2007 Census of Agriculture

USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts a mail survey of all farmers in the United States every five years. Detailed questions about the sociodemographic characteristics of the U.S. organic farm sector were included in the 2007 Census, covering topics included organic sales, the gender and age of the organic operator, and whether farming is considered the operator's primary occupation.

The Census counted 20,437 farms in the U.S. producing organic products according to National Organic Standards. Farmers that are transitioning to organic production as well as small farms that are exempt from USDA's mandatory certification requirements are included in this number. Organic product sales were reported by 18,211 farms in 2007, with 8,285 of these farms reporting less than $5,000 in organic sales. USDA's organic regulation exempts farms earning under $5,000 in organic sales from the mandatory organic certification requirement.

Findings from the 2007 Census

The results in the charts below come from NASS; complete 2007 Census of Agriculture, including organic tables are available on their website.

Organic Operations Have a Higher Share of Female Operators

Operations by gender of operator, 2007

Organic Operations Have a Higher Share of Operators Who Considers Farming Their Primary Occupation

Primary occupation of principal operator, 2007

Organic Operations Have a Higher Share of Operators Who Consider Their Farm to be Their Primary Residence

Primary place of residence, 2007

Organic Operations Have a Higher Share of Operators Who Worked Fewer Days Off the Farm

Days worked off farm, 2007

Organic Operations Have a Higher Share of Operators Who Have Worked Fewer Years on Present Farm

Years worked on present farm, 2007

Organic Operations Have a Higher Share of Younger Operators

Operator age, 2007

Organic Operations Are Smaller, As Measured in Acres Per Farm

Size distribution of farms in acres, 2007

Organic Farms are Similar to All Farms in Distribution Across Sales Classes

Distribution of all farms/sales by sales class, 2007

 

For more information, contact: Catherine Greene and Edward Slattery

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov

Updated date: July 23, 2009