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Mercy For Animals Is Disrupting the Factory Farming Industry

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In 2021, the State of California had approximately 3,061 organic farms and ranches. This was the largest number of certified organic farms in the United States. The state of Pennsylvania had approximately 1,125 certified organic farms. Nearly 16,194 thousand certified organic farms in operation used cropland in 2021, while 6,749 thousand farms operated pastureland and rangeland. The sales value of crops, including those from nurseries and greenhouses, amounted to nearly 6.15 billion U.S. dollars.

Organic Farming in Europe

The number of organic farms in the Netherlands has increased by over 40 percent since 2010. In 2021, there were approximately 2,063 certified organic farms in the Netherlands. Organic farms typically use ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers derived largely from animal and plant wastes. During the last six years, the number has continuously risen. The area of agricultural surface used for organic farming in France, the agricultural surface area used for organic farming, certified and in conversion, has also seen steady growth. In the United Kingdom, the land area in conversion for organic farming has decreased from its peak of 158 thousand hectares in 2007 to 42 thousand hectares in 2021.

Organic Farming in Asia

The area of certified organic farmland in Japan amounted to approximately 14.14 thousand hectares in 2021. In South Korea, it amounted to almost 39 thousand hectares, after several years of constant increases in organic farmland. In 2014, the acreage of organically farmed land in China amounted to nearly 23 million hectares. In 2021, this figure had reduced by more than half, as approximately 9.84 million hectares of farmland in China were certified as organic.

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Certified organic farms in U.S. by state 2021 | Statista

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In 2021, the State of California had approximately 3,061 organic farms and ranches.

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"Organically grown" food is food grown and processed using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Pesticides derived from natural sources (such as biological pesticides) may be used in producing organically grown food.

Background

Organic production has been practiced in the United States since the late 1940s. From that time, the industry has grown from experimental garden plots to large farms with surplus products sold under a special organic label. Food manufacturers have developed organic processed products and many retail marketing chains specialize in the sale of "organic" products. This growth stimulated a need for verification that products are indeed produced according to certain standards. Thus, the organic certification industry also evolved.

More than 40 private organizations and state agencies (certifiers) certify organic food. But their standards for growing and labeling organic food may differ. For example, there are differences in:

permitting or prohibiting different pesticides or fertilizers in growing organic food

the language contained in approved seals, labels, and logos

By the late 1980s, in an effort to standardize production and certification, the organic industry petitioned Congress to draft the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) defining "organic".

National Organic Program

The National Organic Program (NOP) is a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) marketing program within the Agricultural Marketing Service. This agency sets marketing standards. The NOP's mission is to:

develop and implement national standards that govern the marketing of agricultural products as organically produced;

facilitate commerce in fresh and processed food that is organically produced;

assure consumers that such products meet consistent standards.

The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. This list identifies synthetic substances that may be used, and the non-synthetic substances that cannot be used, in organic production and handling operations.
More information from USDA More information from other organizations
Guidance for labeling pesticides under the National Organics Program

The Final Guidance on Labeling Pesticide Products Under the National Organic Program (January 31, 2003) describes how registrants can obtain EPA approval of label language. Approved label language for all pesticide ingredients (active and inert) and all uses of that pesticide must meet the criteria defined in the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) Rule.

The guidance provides an example of acceptable label language and the procedures for adding such identification to product labels. The information on the pesticide label will assist organic growers and those persons certifying organic production methods in knowing which pesticide products meet the requirements of the NOP Rule for use in organic agriculture.
More information from EPA
Other organic farming information

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The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is an international nonprofit organization that determines which input products are allowed for use in organic production and processing.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) is an affiliation of seven state chapters and provides educational conferences, workshops, farm tours and printed materials to educate farmers, gardeners, consumers and land care professionals.

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"Organically grown" food is food grown and processed using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Pesticides derived from natural sources (such as biological pesticides) may be used in producing organically grown food. Organic production has been practiced in the United States since the late 1940s.