Conference poster
Production and price trends in Washington's organic farm sector in a period of rapid change.
Washington State University
10/17/2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000002763
Abstract
The organic farm sector in Washington State experienced rapid growth from 2005-2009. Acres and number of farms have declined since, while farmgate sales reached new yearly highs in 2010-2013. Specialty crops appear to make up at least 70% of the $355 million in farmgate sales (2012). Market average organic yields were generally below NASS yields for the state, but higher prices often offset lower yields and led to greater gross revenue per acre. A number of organic growers are achieving yields ≥ the NASS averages, with higher yields correlated with larger farm size for some crops. In analyzing entry and exit trends of certified organic farms, scale, region, crop choice, and market (direct vs. wholesale) were important determinants of success. Entry rates were strongly positively correlated with total organic acres and varied widely, while exit rates were very stable over time whether in a period of expansion (2005-2009) or of decline (2009-2013).
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Details
- Title
- Production and price trends in Washington's organic farm sector in a period of rapid change.
- Creators
- David Granatstein - Washington State University, WSU Extension ANRMICHAEL P BRADY - Washington State University, Economic Sciences, School ofElizabeth Kirby
- Academic Unit
- WSU Extension ANR
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900633933701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference poster