ADVOCACY
Policy Priorities
OFRF recognizes the organic method as the leading form of agriculture and a vital solution to many challenges facing U.S. agriculture. However, USDA support has not kept pace with the sector’s rapid growth and increasing importance. We have developed a new set of Policy Priorities designed to align research investments with market opportunities, enhance technical and financial assistance for organic farmers and farmworkers, and strengthen the incentive structures that reward sustainable stewardship of our natural, social, and economic resources.
Our three priority areas are:
- Investing in Organic Research: USDA research investments into organic agriculture topics proportionally reflect the industry’s growing market share.
- Amplifying Economic Benefit of Organic: Rural communities and economies benefit from the organic economic engine.
- Increasing Technical Support: USDA and State Technical and Financial Support Agencies continue to work to increase Organic Producers’ utilization of their resources.
Investing in Organic Research
Amplifying Economic Benefit of Organic
Increasing Technical Support
By embracing and supporting these policies, Congress and the USDA can unlock the full potential of the organic sector—creating economic opportunities, empowering producers, strengthening rural economies, and delivering environmental benefits that extend far beyond the farm.
In the webinar below, recorded in September by Iroquois Valley, Policy Program Director Gordon Merrick presents the latest policy developments impacting organic farmers, federal funding opportunities, and what’s ahead for organic agriculture nationwide:
Organic Research State-by-State
OFRF has developed state-by-state “leave behinds” that are meant to communicate the size of the organic market, the importance of organic research investments, and regional research priorities.
Explore the map by hovering over states names to discover some high-level facts about organic agriculture research in those regions. To learn more, click the state name to access a PDF with more details. Download, save, print, and share these!
Washington
Size of Market: Ranking 5th in the nation, Washington has 1,355 organic businesses, 730 are organic farms with over $1.1 billion in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $25.5 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $500 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is developing cultivars of buckwheat that deliver both attractive economical outputs as well as build soil health and offer other ecological benefits.
Oregon
Size of Market: Ranking 10th in the nation, Oregon has 893 organic businesses, 491 of which are organic farms.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $27 million in grants to the state's research institutions, which translates to over $240 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge project is developing barley that is easier to harvest for organic producers and has multiple uses, providing a key example of research aimed at promoting ecological and economic vitality of the agriculture sector.
California
Size of Market: Ranking 1st in the nation, California has 5,055 organic businesses, 3,061 of which are organic farms that sold over $3.5 billion of goods in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $22 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $440 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One research project is looking into grazing in tree crop orchards and vineyards to understand compounding benefits of nutrient management, soil health improvement, and pest control while controlling any food safety risks.
Idaho
Size of Market: Ranking 22nd in the nation, Idaho has 367 organic businesses, 245 of which are organic farms that sold nearly $220M in products in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $24 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $480 million in economic activity according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One exciting project is investigating the use of cereal-pea inter-cropping as a ecologically and economically sound cropping strategy for transitioning into organic production and simultaneously improving soil health.
Nevada
Size of Market: Nevada has 108 organic businesses, 43 of which are organic farms with over $62 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded no grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which is a significant gap in the research system’s knowledge of dryland and arid growing systems.
Example Project: Some research projects in the region have been actively looking to develop and evaluate corn and cotton varieties that are more drought-tolerant and adapted for organic production in the arid growing environment.
Montana
Size of Market: Montana has 206 organic farms with sales totaling over $49 million in 2021. Montana’s top organic commodities are livestock products like eggs and field crops like hay and wheat.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $7 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $140 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is aimed at identifying long-term solutions to perennial weeds like Canadian Thistle and Field Bindweed in grain and other Great Plains cropping systems.
Wyoming
Size of Market: Wyoming has 79 organic businesses, 60 are organic farms with over $20 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $1.5 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $30 million in economic activity according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: The University of Wyoming has explored the greenhouse gas implications of organic crop and forage production in the high plains.
Utah
Size of Market: Utah has 192 organic businesses, 53 are organic farms with over $31 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $10 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $200 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project at Utah State University is developing climate-resilient organic wheat cropping systems.
Arizona
Size of Market: Ranking 7th in the nation, Arizona has 239 organic businesses, 62 are organic farms with over $162 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $3.5 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research. which translates to nearly $70 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One project at the University of Arizona is investigating wine and livestock industry waste as a feedstock for high-quality, organic compost to improve soil and plant health.
Colorado
Size of Market: Ranking 4th in the nation, Colorado has 543 organic businesses, 265 of which are farms with organic commodity sales totaled over $252M in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $8 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $160 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One research project in the state has been investigating strategies to decrease the food safety concerns of organic poultry farming.
New Mexico
Size of Market: New Mexico has 101 organic businesses, 93 are organic farms with over $101 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $1.2 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to nearly $25 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project awarded in 2022 is attempting to bridge the knowledge systems of traditional agriculture associated with the region’s tribal communities with the climate- adaptive organic system of agricultural production.
North Dakota
Size of Market: North Dakota has 182 organic businesses, 113 are organic farms with nearly $19 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $2 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $40 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project in the state is investigating the scalability of already identified effective water—and bio-based mulch systems as an alternative to plastic mulching, which is an important system in organic production.
South Dakota
Size of Market: South Dakota has 136 organic businesses, 106 are organic farms with over $21 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $800,000 in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $16 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: A cutting-edge research project is investigating the agronomic and economic effects of utilizing living mulches in organic vegetable production in the state.
Nebraska
Size of Market: Ranking 21st in the nation, Nebraska has 386 organic businesses, 220 of those are organic farms that sold over $193 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $4 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic agriculture research, which translates to over $80 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One exciting research project in the state is investigating a first-of-its-kind water- and bio-based mulch system as an alternative to plastic mulching, which is an important system in organic production.
Kansas
Size of Market: Kansas has 208 organic businesses, 129 of which are organic farms with sales totaling over $66 million in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $4 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $80 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One groundbreaking research project is designing a digital tool that will help advise producers as they transition their operation into organically certified production systems, considering both economic and agronomic complications.
Oklahoma
Size of Market: Oklahoma has 79 organic businesses, 48 are organic farms with over $13 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: Oklahoma’s research institutions have been research partners in over $4 million in awards for organic agriculture research which translates to over $80 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: The state is participating in cutting-edge research investigating sorghum production in organic systems for both grain and silage for livestock feed, a prime example of how research is aiming to maximize economic returns for all farmers.
Texas
Size of Market: Ranking 13th in the nation, Texas has 800 organic businesses, 258 are organic farms with over $572 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $21 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $420 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One research project awarded to Prairie View A&M University in 2023 is investigating and developing resources to foster the growth of the organic cotton production system in Texas and the southwest region.
Minnesota
Size of Market: Ranking 8th in the nation, Minnesota has 963 organic businesses, 650 of which are organic farms with nearly $150 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $25 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $500 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is investing in the development of a robust network of organic dairy farms aimed at sharing genetic diversity and improving the vitality of the state and region’s dairy industry.
Iowa
Size of Market: Ranking 6th in the nation, Iowa has 1,086 organic businesses, with 799 organic farms that had sales totaling over $237 million in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $31 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $620 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One exciting project is exploring integrating vegetable, poultry, and cover cropping systems for organic production in the state and region to enhance ecological and economic resilience.
Missouri
Size of Market: Ranking 16th in the nation, Missouri has 571 organic businesses, 397 of which are organic farms that had over $204 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $4 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $80 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is investigating the soil disease control services that different cover crop mixes and practices have for the Southeastern soils.
Arkansas
Size of Market: Arkansas has 149 organic businesses, 82 are organic farms with over $110 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $9 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $180 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One crucial project has been exploring the opportunities for rice production in the state and the larger Delta region, a potentially new high-revenue commodity for the region.
Louisiana
Size of Market: Louisiana has 38 organic businesses 19 of which are organic farms with nearly $10 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: Louisianan organizations have collaborated in over $5 million of research funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which translates to over $100 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: Louisiana State University has played a crucial role in organic agriculture research, participating in four projects over the past decade on organic research subjects.
Wisconsin
Size of Market: Ranking 3rd in the nation, Wisconsin has 1,791 organic businesses, 1,455 are organic farms with over $312 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $19 million in grants to the state’s research institutions, which translates to over $380 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One vital research project in the state is operationalizing a novel bio-control for Fire Blight, an invasive disease that is threatening the state and region’s apple crop.
Illinois
Size of Market: Ranking 14th in the nation, Illinois has 735 organic businesses, 354 of those are organic farms with organic commodity sales totaling nearly $127 million in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $20 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $400 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: The participatory plant breeding projects based out of the state have produced crucial varieties of corn, carrots, and grain crops for the state and region’s organic farmers.
Mississippi
Size of Market: Mississippi has 28 organic businesses, 15 of which are farms with over $23 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $4 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $80 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: The state’s research institutions are some of the few in the nation that focus on livestock research, a historically under-invested area of research that is experiencing growth.
Michigan
Size of Market: Ranking 12th in the nation, Michigan has 826 organic businesses, 572 of those being organic farms with nearly $272 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $17.5 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $350 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One crucial research project at the University of Michigan is working to identify the different soil health benefits of different cover crop mixtures for organic farms.
Indiana
Size of Market: Ranking 9th in the nation, Indiana has 933 organic businesses, 694 of which are organic farms with sales totaling over $190 million in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $14 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $280 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: The participatory plant breeding projects based out of the state have produced crucial varieties of tomato and related crops for the state and region’s organic farmers that resist commercially important diseases.
Kentucky
Size of Market: Kentucky has 233 organic businesses 207 of which are organic farms with sales totaling over $70 million in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $5 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $100 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One recent research project awarded in 2023 is ensuring that the region’s specialty crop producers have the tools and knowledge they need to create a more resilient system against climate-and pest-related disruptions.
Tennessee
Size of Market: Tennessee has 91 organic businesses, 46 are organic farms with over $16 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $20 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $400 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge project is developing varieties of perennial crops that can offer important economic channels as well as soil-building tools.
Alabama
Size of Market: 71% of Alabamians purchase organic products regularly.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $9 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to nearly $200 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: A 2021 research project at Auburn University is investigating the best management practices for initial years of organic production in the Southeastern US.
Ohio
Size of Market: Ranking 7th in the nation, Ohio has 993 organic businesses, 800 are organic farms with over $177 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $14 million in grants to the state’s research institutions, which translates to over $280 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is investigating how organic producers can use grain crops both as a commodity to sell but also as a green manure and cover crop to improve soil health and climate resilience.
New York
Size of Market: Ranking 2nd in the nation, New York has 1,856 organic businesses, 1,407 are organic farms with nearly $328 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $48 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to nearly $1 billion in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is working to further expand a cover crop breeding network to increase the genetic security and access for the agricultural sector in the region.
Pennsylvania
Size of Market: Ranking 4th in the nation, Pennsylvania has 1,641 organic businesses, 1,125 are organic farms. In terms of sales, it ranks 3rd in the nation with over $1 billion in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $28 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $560 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is investigating anaerobic soil disinfection as an organic method that will aid producers transitioning into organic production and working to integrate weed and disease management.
West Virginia
Size of Market: West Virginia has 47 organic businesses, 27 are organic farms with over $23 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $3 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $60 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One crucial research project is transitioning small ruminants into organic certification through using different feeds to control parasites.
Virginia
Size of Market: Ranking 25th in the nation, Virginia has 303 organic businesses, 166 are organic farms with nearly $107 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $2 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $40 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One crucial research project has been developing a curriculum for the next generation of plant science researchers that highlights organic agriculture.
North Carolina
Size of Market: Ranking 15th in the nation, North Carolina has 589 organic businesses, 35 are organic farms with over $308 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $12 million in grants to the state’s research institutions, which translates to over $230 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is investigating the enhanced carbon sequestration and general soil health benefits that organic production can offer the Southeast region.
South Carolina
Size of Market: South Carolina has 106 organic businesses, 40 are organic farms with over $34 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $10 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $200 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: A project awarded in 2024 to Clemson University is developing chickpea cultivar varieties that are suited for organic production in the southeast region, providing producers with a high-value and soil-building crop.
Georgia
Size of Market: Ranking 24th in the nation, Georgia has 323 organic businesses, 121 of which were organic farms that sold nearly $76 million in goods in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $10 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $200 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: A research project awarded in 2022 focused on the persistent issues of perennial weeds and low soil fertility in the Southeast, providing the state and region with action-oriented resources.
Florida
Size of Market: Ranking 20th in the nation, Florida has 435 organic businesses with 134 being organic farms that sold over $108 million in goods in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $17 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $340 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One project awarded funding in 2024 is investigating agroecological strategies for organically produced citrus.
Vermont
Size of Market: Ranking 11th in the nation, Vermont has 843 organic businesses, 693 are organic farms with nearly $153 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $16 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $320 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: The University of Vermont research team has been crucial in the development of research tools for organic grass-fed dairy, providing models for extension services and research design that have been adopted around the country.
New Hampshire
Size of Market: New Hampshire has 144 organic businesses, 93 of which are organic farms with over $17 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $6 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $120 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is working to build robust networks of farms that can share best practices and systems to increase consumer participation and knowledge of their operations.
Massachusetts
Size of Market: Massachusetts has 267 organic businesses with 89 of those being organic farms with over $28 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded nearly $2 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $40 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: The University of Massachusetts has played a crucial role in organic agriculture research, investigating organic alternatives to control intestinal nematodes that threaten the state and region’s organic small ruminant livestock industry, directly answering farmer concerns.
Connecticut
Size of Market: Connecticut has nearly 1,200 certified organic acres that generate over $6.8 million in sales annually.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $9 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $180 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: A recent award to the University of Connecticut is investigating natural biocontrol strategies to address some food safety concerns in organic leafy green production.
New Jersey
Size of Market: Ranking 19th in the nation, New Jersey has 446 organic businesses, 70 of which are organic farms with over $22 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $3.5 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $70 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One research project that was conducted in the state investigated habitat control methods for new and emerging pests that threaten the region’s organic production of fruits and nightshade specialty crops.
Delaware
Size of Market: Delaware has 33 organic businesses, eight of which are farms operating on 220 acres of land. In 2019, organic farms sold over $13 million in products.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $200,000 in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $4 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: The one organic research project awarded to the University of Delaware was focused on decreasing the food safety concerns related to sprouts by decontaminating seeds.
Maryland
Size of Market: Maryland has 186 organic businesses, 112 of which are organic farms that had over $50 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $13 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $260 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: A recently started research project is investigating strategies for grain growers transitioning to organic production to maximize economic and agronomic benefits of that transition.
Maine
Size of Market: Ranking 18th in the nation, Maine has 530 organic businesses, 496 of those are organic farms that had nearly $52 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $9 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $180 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is investigating methods to organically control an invasive pest, the Spotted Wing Drosophila, a fruit fly that presents a significant risk to the state’s fruit industry.
Rhode Island
Size of Market: Rhode Island has 50 organic businesses, 28 are organic farms with over $1.5 million in sales in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $3.5 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $70 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One cutting-edge research project is developing tools for the state’s specialty crop producers that lower food safety barriers to larger markets.
Hawaii
Size of Market: Hawaii has 144 organic farms with organic commodity sales totaling over $17 million in 2021.Number of Research Grants on Organic Topics Awarded: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded over $2.5 million in grants to the state’s research institutions for organic research, which translates to over $50 million in economic activity, according to the Economic Research Service.
Example Project: One exciting project is research investigating Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and soil health effects of different management systems in sweet potatoes for small and mid-size farms, a significant cultural crop for the island.
These state-by-state resources were created using data from various sources, including the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s latest organic survey from 2021, the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Organic Integrity Database, and the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Industry Surveys. If you have a question about data in your state or region, contact OFRF’s Senior Policy & Programs Manager Gordon Merrick: gordon@ofrf.org
National Organic Research Programs at the USDA
Along with these state-specific resources, we’ve developed a new leave-behind that highlights USDA’s national organic research programs. This resource covers research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and competitive grant programs through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), including the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), Organic Transitions Program (ORG), Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE), Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), and Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). It details how funding is distributed, points out challenges faced by these programs, and showcases example projects.
#GetActive – A Step-by-Step Guide to Engaging in Advocacy
Our goal is to provide you with the best information to sustain powerful organic advocacy in your community.
This Step-by-Step Guide will walk you through how to familiarize yourself with who your legislators are, where they stand on critical ag policy issues, and how to reach out to them to share your story. Grab a notebook, click through the buttons below, and get ready to #GetActive. You can always contact us if you need additional support, we’ll do our best to assist you in raising the voice of organic farmers and researchers.
Ready to do more?
Use the links below to share your story with us, or watch the short video about Communicating with Legislators to learn how to share your story directly with decision-makers in your area.
SHARE YOUR STORY
We Want You to Hear From YOU
Farmers and Researchers, we need your help to deepen the impact of our advocacy work! Facts, figures, and statistical breakdowns of the effects of increased public investment in agricultural research are important, but the lived experiences and stories of researchers and farmers communicate more than a report ever can. This is why we are beginning to implement a new strategy in our policy advocacy: story banking. This means collecting and amplifying stories of researchers and farmers around the U.S. who have effectively shared their work with decision-makers.
SPEAK UP FOR ORGANIC
Communicating with Legislators Email Course
Looking for a simple way to speak up for organic? Our Communicating with Legislators email course gives farmers, researchers, and advocates the tools to share their stories confidently.
Delivered by email, this free, self-paced course includes short videos from OFRF’s Senior Policy & Programs Manager, Gordon Merrick, plus easy action steps and support from our team. You’ll learn how Congress works, why your voice matters, and how to make it heard—no policy degree required.
OFRF’S STATEMENTS
As an organization committed to the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems, OFRF is deeply involved in both the farm bill and the appropriations processes. We are working hard to advocate for organics at every turn.
OFRF is an active participant in both the legislative and regulatory systems. Below are the actions we have taken in those processes: Organizational Sign-On Letters we have both sponsored and endorsed, Congressional Testimony on Farm Bill and Appropriations priorities, and comments we have submitted to USDA and other regulatory agencies.
- House Organic Science and Research Investment (OSRI) Act Sign-On Letter (October 2025, OFRF led)
- Senate Organic Science and Research Investment (OSRI) Act Sign-On Letter (April 2025, OFRF led)
- FY26 Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Community Support (March 2025, OFRF endorsed)
- Packard and Stockyards Act, Contract Grower Rule (February 2025, OFRF endorsed)
- Organic Research in the Next Farm Bill Sign-on Letter (June 2024)
- Safeguarding Agricultural Research Funding Sign-on Letter (July 2023)
- Organic Science and Research Investment Act (OSRI Act) Sign-on Letter (July 2023)
- Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) Act Sign-on Letter (May 2023)
- Building Resilience Through Agricultural Research in the Upcoming Farm Bill (November 2022)
- Group Support of Climate Solutions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (August 2022)
- OFRF Comments on USDA’s Reorganization Plan (August 2025)
- Written Comments for NOSB Spring Meeting (April 2025)
- OFRF Comments on AMS’s Specialty Crop Competitiveness Initiative (SCCI) (March 2024)
- OFRF Comments on NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) (March 2024)
- Written Comments for NOSB Meetings (April 2022)
- Letter to USDA National Organic Program to Protect Native Ecosystems (March 2022)
- Testimony Submitted by Gordon N. Merrick, FY 2025 Appropriations for United States Department of Agriculture (May 2024)
- Testimony Submitted by Gordon N. Merrick, FY 2025 Appropriations for United States Department of Agriculture (April 2024)
- Testimony Submitted by Gordon N. Merrick, FY 2024 Appropriations for United States Department of Agriculture (April 2023)
- Testimony Submitted by Gordon N. Merrick, FY 2024 Appropriations for United States Department of Agriculture (March 2023)
- Submitted Statement of Thelma Velez to the House Committee on Agriculture in Climate Research Hearing (June 2022)
GORDON’S POLICY CORNER
We share the latest policy updates and action alerts each month in Gordon’s Policy Corner. Sign up for OFRF’s newsletter to make sure you never miss one, and feel free to reach out to Gordon with any policy or advocacy questions: gordon@ofrf.org
Policy Developments in 2025 and How They Are Affecting Small Farms
Despite messaging around reinvigorated support for small farms, policy choices over the last year have revealed a widespread decline in resources for small farmers. Learn about the program cuts and how they are impacting farmers across the country.
Doing the Unglamorous, Essential Work to Help Organic Agriculture Thrive
As Gordon prepares to step away from his role at OFRF, he reflects on the lessons learned in four years working in organic agriculture policy and how it has shaped the way he thinks about food, farming, and creating policy that serves the people who are integral to our food system.
New Year, Same Farm Bill… Again.
As we turn the calendar to a new year, we are still operating under an extended version of the 2018 Farm Bill. In this month’s Policy Corner, Gordon provides a quick reset on where things stand, what key players are signaling, and how OFRF is approaching organic agriculture policy advocacy for the year ahead to ensure organic agriculture is fully recognized as a research-driven, conservation-forward, and economically significant part of U.S. agriculture.
Something to be Grateful For: Northeastern State Secretaries of Agriculture Send Letter to Secretary Rollins about OREI
On November 20th, the state secretaries of agriculture from Connecticut, Delaware, and New Jersey joined Pennsylvania Secretary Redding to submit a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, requesting unreleased FY2025 funding for the Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) be included on top of new fiscal year funds for the program in FY2026.
