Wisconsin leads the nation in organic farming

[undeterred]

Gov. Doyle: Announces Wisconsin leads nation in organic farming 2/10/2010
Contacts: Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Lee Sensenbrenner , Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, 608-224-5020

Wisconsin is Second in U.S. with over 1,200 Organic Farms on Nearly 200,000 Acres

MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle announced today that Wisconsin is second in the nation in the number of organic farms, according to numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural (USDA) Statistics Service.

“Farming is the heritage and the future of Wisconsin, and we’ve worked hard to strengthen and diversify agriculture across the state,” Governor Doyle said. “Organic farming is one of the areas that Wisconsin is leading the way, and I am proud to support these efforts.”

According to the USDA’s survey, Wisconsin has 1,222 organic farms, the second highest in the nation, behind California. Wisconsin organic farms use 195,603 acres of land. Organic sales in the state total $132.8 million, including $30.1 million in crops sales and $102.6 million in sales of livestock, poultry and their products. Sixty-four percent of total organic sales in Wisconsin were from milk from cows.

Organic farms in Wisconsin had average sales and production expenses similar to all farms statewide. Organic operations had average sales of $115,247 in 2008, compared with average sales of $114,288 for all types of farms, as reported in the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Production expenditures averaged $77,760 per organic farm, compared with the average of $86,011 for all farms.

Most Wisconsin organic producers sold their products locally, with 56 percent of sales occurring less than 100 miles from the farm. In Wisconsin, 7 percent of sales were direct to consumers via farm stands, farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture, and other arrangements, while over 75 percent of Wisconsin organic sales were to wholesale channels. These percentages are consistent with those seen at the national level.

Under Governor Doyle’s leadership, Wisconsin has invested and promoted its diverse farm economy. Incentives to help modernize the dairy industry have helped increase milk production to record levels and have strengthened the state's status as the number one producer of cheese in the country. At the same time, efforts to strengthen diversity in agriculture have made Wisconsin a leading producer of cranberries, specialty cheeses, organic vegetables and many other products. To enable successful farming for future generations, the state's best farmland is protected under the Working Lands Initiative that Governor Doyle signed into law in 2009.

In his State of the State Address, Governor Doyle called on the Legislature to extend the Dairy Modernization Tax Credit to help hard-pressed dairy farmers invest in their operations. The Governor also called for the development of a Food Processing Modernization Tax Credit to help companies invest in modern agriculture, expand operations, and create jobs.

Complete results of the 2008 Organic Production Survey are available at:
http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Organics/

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.Iml?Article=185116

:thumbsup:

[midnight]

1. Great story... Didn't know this.... I recently bought craisins-loved them...

[undeterred]

2. Let’s raise a ruckus over factory farms

Capital Times editorial | Posted: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 5:00 am

State agriculture officials say they want to hear what Wisconsinites think about the lax rules and regulations for factory farms. It’s about time.

Over the past two decades, the number of factory farms in Wisconsin — those with 500 or more “animal units” — has grown from 20 to 170. And these industrial institutions are coming to dominate dairy production in America’s Dairyland. According to a recent article by veteran Wisconsin journalist Roger Bybee, “These operations account for an increasing share of the state’s agricultural output. In 2007, 28 dairy herds of 500 cows or larger — representing less than two-tenths of 1 percent of Wisconsin’s 14,200 dairy farms — accounted for nearly a quarter of all milk production in the state, according to data supplied by the state Department of Agriculture.”

Our agricultural economy, our landscape and our future are being transformed under the watch of regulators who often seem more like cheerleaders. Now the regulators are asking Wisconsinites what they think. We should give them an earful.

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection officials are seeking public comments on their rules regarding so-called “larger livestock operations.” DATCP, which is required to re-evaluate standards every four years, plans to hold public listening sessions in Madison, Eau Claire, Oshkosh and Wausau during February and March. The agency is also seeking comments via e-mail and snail mail.

Some will be skeptical about whether state agencies that have already given too much slack to corporate agribusiness and big-time polluters might actually be interested in the opinions of working farmers, neighbors of factory farms and concerned consumers. But Mike Murray, the DATCP siting program manager, says the initiative is sincere, and that it could lead to changes in existing rules.

“Once we have gathered the comments from farmers, local government, rural residents and others, we will present a summary of the comments and a plan of action to our board,” Murray says. “We will identify the ‘next steps’ in the rule review process, which could possibly include opening the rule for revisions if we find that is needed.”

Fair enough. Here’s a comment: When Wisconsin permits the development of huge farms, it undermines the good name of Wisconsin milk and cheese and erodes this state’s status as America’s Dairyland.

Factory farms are not merely sources of dangerous pollution, disgusting odors and disturbing conditions for animals. They abandon the standards and values of the family farmers who remain the backbone of this state’s agricultural sector. Only someone who does not care about the future of farming in Wisconsin would be foolish enough to presume that a state with a rich and healthy tradition of diverse and independent milk and cheese production could benefit from the establishment of more factory farms.

more at: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_85d34351-b265-5511-889e-430b8d4a2e85.html

To join the dialogue, attend the listening session in Dodgeville from 3 to 6 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. following a break, on Thursday, Feb. 18, at Dodger Bowl, 321 King St. Sessions will be held in Eau Claire, Oshkosh and Wausau in late February and early March as well. Or e-mail your comments before March 10 to [e-mail], fax them to 608-224-4615 or mail them to: DATCP, Attention: Mike Murray, PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911.

[glinda]

5. Friend of mine runs an organic farm in Wales and they are now being forced to

grow things that are not "natural" to the area or that grow best. Sad state of affairs. WI needs to fight this and go for the gold in having such strong small and organic farms that they cannot be broken.

[madrchsod]

3. is`t madison`s farmer`s market the largest in the usa?

[bobthedrummer]

4. I live in the epicenter of the organic community-The Driftless Region, 15 miles E of the Mississippi

The Driftless Area Initiative website
http://www.driftlessareainitiative.org/

:)

[glinda]

6. How has the weather been there. Especially for crops?

[undeterred]

7. American Heart: Wisconsin Man Starts 'Good Food' Revolution

One Man's Passion for Urban Farming Has the White House Taking Note

8 comments By CHRIS BURY and JESSICA HOPPER
May 18, 2010

Will Allen is a towering figure in his Milwaukee, Wisconsin, field. Working as a farmer, missionary and coach, he preaches the gospel of good food grown in the heart of the city.

"Our new farmers will not come from rural America," Allen said. As president of the nonprofit organization Growing Power, Allen promotes urban farming among diverse groups in the inner city.

Farming is in Allen's blood. Allen's parents worked as sharecroppers in South Carolina. Allen, 61, grew up on a small farm in Maryland. He played pro basketball in his 20s and then toiled in the corporate world. Then, 18 years ago, he spotted a tiny 5-acre farm, the last one left in Milwaukee.

"There was a sign, 'for sale,' for this place and something made me stop," Allen said. Now, Allen and 40 farmhands grow 160 different crops in solar-powered greenhouses. They also raise fish and house a full barnyard of animals. "We grow enough food to feed 10,000 people," Allen said.



http://abcnews.go.com/WN/wisconsin-man-starts-good-food-revolution/story?id=10678021