Standard Process Inc.
Organic is the Way to Grow
November 2008 News From The Farm SP News Article
Christine Mason,
Farm Manager
It comes as no surprise to people that agriculture is very important to the state of Wisconsin. After all, we are the land of cheese and butter. Agriculture actually contributes about $51 billion to the Wisconsin economy annually, and the segment of that agriculture most near and dear to me is organic.
Here is an amazing statistic that even most people in Wisconsin don't know–Wisconsin is the second most active organic state in the entire country, with only California boasting more numbers of organic farms than we have. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic farming in Wisconsin has grown by more than 90% in the last five years. Such aggressive growth would not be possible if consumer demand was not driving the marketplace. The Organic Trade Association claims that by the year 2025 at least 13 percent of the food products in an American household will be organic.
Wisconsin leads the nation in organic dairy production as well as organic livestock. We are in the top five for: corn, soybeans, oats, barley, rye, and hay production. Much to my delight, it is not difficult to find a neighbor close by that is farming organically to help out with questions or advice. The organic movement has been driven by farmers in this state to the point where our numbers are now high enough that we have an Organic Advisory Council that reports to the Secretary of Ag. You can now attend an organic field day at the University, and there is a full-time staff member within the Department of Ag to help people with organic issues, questions, and concerns. The times are a changing!
Standard Process is very proud to be active in the Wisconsin Organic Community. We have been privileged to host a day where all University and extension personnel were able to come and learn more about organics, as well as two Midwest Organic and Sustainable Agriculture field days in which growers were invited to learn more about large-scale organic farming methods. This summer, the Organic Advisory Council, of which I am honored to be a member, held its first ever off-site meeting at Standard Process, which included a tour of both the plant and the Standard Process Farm.
We are encouraged by all of the growing interest in organic and we feel blessed to be in a state that is active and aggressively increasing its organic acres. With a little luck, Standard Process can continue to help "cultivate" new organic enthusiasm, one grower at a time.
Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin / 2007 Status Report. Prepared by: UW-Madison CIAS, Wisc DATCP, UW-Madison Center for Dairy Profitability. February 2008.