USDA reports sales from organic farms in the U.S. totaled nearly $5.5 billion in 2014 reflecting a 72 percent increase since 2008.
The National Ag Statistics Service says there were 14,093 organic farms covering 3.67 million acres in the county last year.
California is the leading organic-producing state with 2,800 organic farms, 687,000 acres and sales of $2.2 billion in 2014.
Milk was the most valuable organic product sold by farms last year totaling $1.1 billion. There were 228,000 organic milk cows on 2,184 farms in the U.S. at the end of 2014. California had 48,600 organic cows on 98 farms producing $14.7 million in sales. Wisconsin had 25,700 organic cows on 396 farms producing $8.7 million in sales.
Organic egg sales totaled $420 million, broiler chicken sales totaled $372 million, organic lettuce sales reached $264 million and organic apples totaled $250 million in sales.
There were 38,000 organic beef cows on 520 farms at the end of 2014 with sales of $15.9 million.
15,500 organic hogs were sold in the U.S. last year for a total of $4.9 million.
4,000 organic sheep and lambs generated $1.05 million.
1,365 organic farms were transitioning another 122,000 acres and 688 non-organic farms had 50,600 acres transitioning to organic production in 2014.
Source: www.brownfieldagnews.com