U.S. farmers harvested almost 3.3 million acres of certified organic field crops in 2019, with that number driven by 14 percent more organic operations.
Those numbers come from Mercaris, the market data service and online trading platform for organic, non-GMO, and certified agricultural commodities.
The company’s final 2019 report shows that the number of growers converting land to organic production escalated significantly throughout 2019, adding to the U.S. organic harvest and offsetting the impact of a wet growing season.
Producers harvested 1.1 million acres of organic hay and alfalfa in 2019, up eight percent year-over-year with 11 percent more certified organic operations.
Thirteen percent more certified organic operations harvested organic corn over 2019, offsetting a significant decline in the number of harvested acres per operation.
The number of certified operations harvesting organic soybeans reached 2,835, up 11 percent.
The amount of harvested organic wheat acres was driven by expansion in the High Plains region, growing 16 percent in 2019.
A release from Mercaris says, “Despite what can fairly be described as the most difficult growing season in more than a decade, 2019 was a remarkable year for organic production.”
