Chapter 1: Introduction
Phil Rzewnicki, Teaching Assistant Professor, NCSU
Molly Hamilton, Crop Science Extension Assistant, NCSU
The market for organic products is growing at a rapid pace. In the United States, the organic food industry grew between 17 and 21 percent each year from 1997 to 2003, and an average annual growth rate of 18 percent has been forecast through 2008, according to the Organic Trade Association (www.ota.com). In 2003, the market growth of organic bread and grains was over 20 percent, with growth of organic meat, poultry, and fish near 78 percent. These trends are expected to continue.
To be certified as organic, livestock must consume organic grains as required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Plan Rules. This requirement leads to increasing opportunities for production of organic grains. In North Carolina, organic grain producers have expanding opportunities to market their products to manufacturers that create foods human consumption as well as to livestock feed markets. Organic grain prices are usually 150 percent higher than prices for conventionally-produced grain. Other benefits of organic grain production include increased soil health, farm income diversification, and lower levels of exposure to common farm chemicals for both people and the environment. Farmers in North Carolina are in a unique position to take advantage of the early growth of organics by growing and selling organically produced grain. If they are to take advantage of the price premium for organic products, however, more research on organic grain and oilseed production in North Carolina is needed. In addition, a network of organic grain farmers should be developed, and marketing information and Extension education should be made available to help growers compete successfully in this rapidly expanding industry.
This guide provides farmers, extension personnel, and other agricultural educators with information about organic production, certification, and marketing of grain crops as well as references to further information (see the “Resources” section, pages 46-48). It does not cover all aspects of grain production, but focuses on specific techniques relevant to organic systems. Comprehensive guides to grain production can be found in the latest editions of these Extension publications:
Additional information is available from the NC State University Department of Crop Science: www.cropsci.ncsu.edu.
This guide does not make recommendations about using pesticides in organic systems. No research has been published on the use of pesticides approved for organic production of grain crops in North Carolina, and we cannot make recommendations for their use here. The cost of pesticides approved for organic production may also be prohibitively expensive for field crops. The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) publishes a list of commercially available products that can be used in certified organic operations for pest control (www.OMRI.org). Conditions for use of an approved pesticide must be documented in the organic system plan, as described by the 2000 National Organic Plan (NOP).
We have made every effort to accurately cite National Organic Plan regulations, production information, and marketing information. Always consult your certification agency about questions on certification requirements specific to your particular farm.
|