Progress 06/15/02 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Project was completed by submission of a report to Risk Management Agency and publication of article in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. The University of Maryland cooperative agreement with the Resource Economics Division in ERS for collaborative research on this project was also completed. Focus-group participants, particularly grain, soybean and cotton farmers, saw contamination of organic production from genetically modified organisms as a major risk. Focus-group participants producing grains and cottonamany of whom knew about and had obtained crop insurancearaised concerns about coverage offered, including the need for insurance to reflect the higher prices received for organic crops. Most fruit and vegetable producers participating in the focus groups had little knowledge of crop insurance. When provided with basic information about crop insurance, operators of small fruit and vegetable farms were skeptical about its usefulness for their type of
operation.
Impacts
Information on organic producers views of risk and risk management was provided to Risk Management through a report and briefing. Project findings were also disseminated through a journal article in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems and will be presented at the AAEA 2005 annual meetings.
Publications
- Dismukes, R., Chambers, W., Greene, C., James Hanson and Amy Kremen, "Risk Management in Organic Farming", Final report to USDA Risk Management Agency, April 10, 2003.
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
In 2003, ERS and University of Maryland submitted a joint final report to USDA's Risk Management Agency on the size and characteristics of the U.S. organic farm sector, including an exploration of risk management views and issues in the organic sector. The ERS/University of Maryland team conducted six focus groups with organic farmers with various commodity specialties in different regions of the U.S. during 2002. Focus group participants producing grains and cottonamany of whom knew about and had obtained crop insurancearaised concerns about coverage offered, including the need for insurance to reflect the higher prices received for organic crops. Most fruit and vegetable producers participating in the focus groups had little knowledge of crop insurance. When provided with basic information about crop insurance, operators of small fruit and vegetable farms were skeptical about its usefulness for their type of operation.
Impacts
The Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 recognizes organic farming as a "good farming practice" that is covered by federal crop insurance. USDA's Risk Managment Agency used results from the final project report, "Risk Management in Organic Farming," as supporting information in developing risk management tools that are useful for the organic farm sector.
Publications
- Dismukes, R., Chambers, W., Greene, C., James Hanson and Amy Kremen, "Risk Management in Organic Farming", Final report to USDA Risk Management Agency, April 10, 2003.
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