State of Organic Seed Report 2010: Organic Seed Survey Results

Transcription

1 Q #1: In which state do you farm? 1027 responses from 45 states and territories. Figure 1. Q #2: How many years have you been certified organic? 31% 3% 21% 19% 14% 7% 4% 1% < >30 Years Certified Figure 2. Q #3: Last year, did you have any organic acres in annual vegetables? Yes 43% No 57% Figure 3. Q #4: Last year, how many organic acres did you have in annual vegetables? 27% 12% 3% 3% 4% 1% >480 Organic Acres in Annual Fruits and Vegetables 1

2 Figure 4. Q #5: Last year, what approximate percentage of total acreage of annual vegetables was planted with certified organic seed? 7% 18% 5% 6% 4% 8% 4% 2% 12% 8% 7% 19% vegetable acreage planted with organic seed Q #6: Last year, what were your top three annual vegetable crops by acreage, and what percentage of certified organic seed did you use for each? Figure 5. Q #6: Percent organic seed used for TOMATOES - the #1 vegetable 38% 9% 5% 4% 5% 3% 5% 4% 4% 12% 6% 6% organic seed used for tomatoes Figure 6. Q #6: Percent organic seed used for SUMMER / WINTER SQUASH - the #2 vegetable 34% 12% 6% 7% 4% 8% 1% 1% 7% 6% 4% organic seed used for squash 2

3 Figure 7. Q #6: Percent organic seed used for GREENS - the #3 vegetable 49% 1% 6% 2% 4% 3% 5% 3% 1% 18% 4% 6% organic seed used for greens Figure 8. Q #7: Last year, did you have any organic acres in field crops? No Yes Figure 9. Q #8: Last year how many organic acres did you have in field crops? 26% 9% 7% 15% 17% 18% 9% >480 Organic Acres in Field Crops 3

4 Figure 10. Q #9: Last year, what approximate percentage (%) of total acreage of field crops was planted with certified organic seed? 47% 3% 1% 4% 3% 9% 3% 2% 9% 7% 2% field crop acreage planted with organic seed Q #10: Last year, what were your top 3 field crops by acreage? And what percentage of organic seed do you use for each? Figure 11. Q #10: Percent organic seed used for CORN - the #1 field crop 69% 8% 2% 2% 2% 2% 4% 2% 5% 2% organic seed used for corn Figure 12. Q #10: Percent organic seed used for SOYBEANS - the #2 field crop 73% 15% 3% 1% 1% 3% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% organic seed used for soybeans 4

5 Figure 13. Q #10: Percent organic seed used for WHEAT - the #3 field crop 73% 21% 1% 2% 1% 1% organic seed used for wheat Figure 14. Q #11: Last year, did you have any organic acres in forage crops? No 52% Yes 48% Figure 15. Q #12: Last year, how many organic acres in a given season do you have in forage crops? 4% 8% 29% 16% 25% 15% 2% >480 Organic Acres in Forage Crops 5

6 Figure 16. Q #13: Last year, what approximate percentage (%) of total acreage of forage crops is planted with certified organic seed? 25% 4% 2% 4% 2% 6% 1% 1% 6% 4% 3% 44% forage crop acreage planted with organic seed Figure 17. Q #14: Last year, what approximate percentage (%) of total acreage of green manure and cover crops is planted with certified organic seed? 38% 4% 2% 2% 1% 7% 1% 1% 5% 2% 1% 36% cover crop acreage planted with organic seed Figure 18. Q #15: In the last year, what percent of your seed did you get from the following sources? 5% 1% 5% 17% Produce your own Seed broker 28% Printed or internet catalogs Garden centers Other farmers 43% Other 6

7 Figure 19. Q #16: Over the last 3 years have you increased the percentage of organic seed that you use? 10 24% 29% Have been using 10 certified organic seed for at least 3 years 57% 71% No All respondents not using 10 OG seed for last 3 years Yes Figure 20. Q #17: Over the last three years has your certifier requested that you take greater steps to source organic seed? No 39% Yes 61% Figure 21. Q #18: Check which additional steps your certifier has requested. 32% 33% 58% 23% Trialing of available organic varieties Searching OMRI seed database Researching more than three seed catalogs Other 7

8 Figure 22. Q #19: The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past. Not a Slight Moderate Significant Lack of seed treatments such as pelleting or priming Buyer demands varieties not available organically 82% 7% 5% 3% 3% 68% 5% 7% 4% 16% Insufficient quantity of seed 15% 12% 23% Save my own seed 52% 11% 6% 21% Distrust of organic seed quality 71% 8% 5% 6% Price 46% 13% 16% 9% 16% Specific variety not available 17% 3% 9% 12% 58% Lack of desirable genetic traits 43% 9% 12% 11% 24% Seed sizing 6% 2% 2% Other 72% 1% 3% 4% 19% Figure 23. Q #19: Factors rated to significant for not purchasing organic seed Percent rating as to significant 11% Lack of seed treatments such as pelleting or priming 27% Buyer demands varieties not available organically Insufficient quantity of seed 37% Save my own seed Distrust of organic seed quality 41% Price 79% Specific variety not available 47% Lack of desirable genetic traits Seed sizing 26% Other 8

9 Figure 24. Q #20: What organic seed quality issues you have experienced? Not a Slight Moderate Severe Germination / emergence 52% 17% 17% 11% 4% Varietal integrity (i.e. not true to type) 63% 16% 7% 4% Contamination by weed seed in seed lots 7 15% 9% 3% 3% Physical appearance looks suboptimal 71% 15% 9% 3% 2% Excessive chaff and foreign matter 81% 14% 4% 1% 1% Seedborne diseases 11% 6% 2% 1% Uneven size for seeding equipment 82% 11% 4% 3% 1% Other 81% 3% 3% 6% 7% Figure 25. Q #20: Problems producers have had with organic seed quality Percent rating Issue as to severe 31% 21% 14% 13% 6% 9% 7% 16% Germination / emergence Varietal integrity (i.e. not true to type) Contamination by weed seed in seed lots Physical appearance looks suboptimal Excessive chaff and foreign matter Seedborne diseases Uneven size for seeding equipment Other 9

10 Figure 26. Q #21: Do you have more s with the above mentioned quality issues with untreated conventional seed or organic seed? 3% 23% I have more s with untreated conventional seed. I have more s with organic seed. 73% Problems are about the same for both untreated conventional and organic seed. Questions 22 26: How strongly do you agree or disagree with the statements: Figure 27. Q #22: Seed companies should conduct testing and report rates of GE (GMO) contamination in organic seed 37% 37% 21% 2% 4% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Figure 28. 6% Q #23: The regulatory framework in place is adequate to protect my organic farm product(s) from damages due to possible contamination by GE (GMO) crops 21% 31% 21% 22% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 10

11 How strongly do you agree or disagree with the statements (cont.): Figure % Q #24: My organic farm products are at risk from seed contaminated by GE (GMO) traits 27% 31% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 9% Figure % Q #25: Organic seed is important in maintaining the integrity of organic food production 34% 13% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 6% 3% Figure % Q #26: Varieties bred for organic system management are important to the overall success of organic agriculture 38% 12% 3% 2% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 11

12 Figure 32. Q #27: Do you think that there are crops in need of organic breeding? No 35% Yes 65% Q #28: The highest priority crops you feel are in need of organic breeding (crop improvement) and the most important traits to breed for in those crops. Top three crops and top three traits listed. Please see Summary for descriptions and examples of traits. Figure 33. Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in CORN - the #1 field crop in need of breeding 36% 12% Yield Quality Vigor Figure 34. Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in SOYBEANS - the #2 field crop in need of breeding 42% 19% Yield Pest Resistance Quality 12

13 Figure 35. Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in ALFALFA- the #3 field crop in need of breeding 27% 27% 22% Pest Resistance Yield Disease Resistance Figure 36. Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in TOMATOES- the #1 vegetable crop in need of breeding 82% 12% 12% Disease Resistance Flavor Yield Figure 37. Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in BRASSICAS- the #2 vegetable crop in need of breeding 29% 23% 17% Uniformity Disease Resistance Appearance 13

14 Figure 38. Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in WINTER / SUMMER SQUASH - the #3 vegetable crop in need of breeding 43% 17% Disease Resistance Uniformity Quality Figure 39. 9% 3% Q #29: Do you produce organic seed?* No, I do not produce organic seed either for on-farm or commercial use. 39% I produce organic seed for on-farm use only. I produce organic seed commercially. 49% I have produced organic seed commercially in the past but not currently. *Total greater than 10 because more than one response may apply Figure 40. Q #30: Are you interested in producing organic seed for commercial use? 32% 19% Yes, definitely No 49% I am interested if economic opportunity and training are available. 14

15 Figure 41. Q #31: Are you interested in conducting crop improvement/breeding on your farm? 21% Yes, definitely 39% No I am interested if economic opportunity and training are available. Appendix A - Breakdown of specific questions by crop type (vegetable, field, forage) Figure 42. Number of respondents who produce specific crop types Vegetables and Other Crops Field and Other Crops Forage and Other Crops Vegetables Only Field Crops Only Forage Crops Only Figures 43 52: The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past: Figure 43. Lack of seed treatments such as pelleting or priming 10 Not a Slight Moderate Significant 15

16 The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past (cont.): Figure 44. Processor (buyer) demands varieties in contract that are not available organically 7 3 Not a Slight Moderate Significant Figure 45. Insufficient quantity of seed 3 Not a Slight Moderate Significant Figure 46. Save my own seed 7 3 Not a Slight Moderate Significant 16

17 The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past (cont.): Figure 47. Distrust of organic seed quality Not a Slight Moderate Significant Figure 48. Price 3 Not a Slight Moderate Significant Figure 49. Specific variety not available 7 3 Not a Slight Moderate Significant 17

18 The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past (cont.): Figure 50. Lack of desirable genetic traits 7 3 Not a Slight Moderate Significant Figure 51. Seed sizing Not a Slight Moderate Significant Figure 52. Reasons rated to significant for not purchasing organic seed in the past 10 Lack of seed treatments such as pelleting or priming buyer demands varieties not available organically Insufficient quantity of seed Save my own seed Distrust of organic seed quality Price Specific variety not available Lack of desirable genetic traits Seed sizing 18

19 Figures What organic seed quality issues you have experienced? Figure 53. Germination/emergence 7 3 Not a Slight Moderate Severe Figure 54. Varietal integrity (i.e. not true to type) Not a Slight Moderate Severe Figure 55. Contamination by weed seed in seed lots Not a Slight Moderate Severe 19

20 Organic seed quality issues (cont.): Figure 56. Physical appearance looks suboptimal Not a Slight Moderate Severe Figure 57. Excessive chaff and foreign matter 10 Not a Slight Moderate Severe Figure 58. Seedborne diseases 10 Not a Slight Moderate Severe 20

21 Organic seed quality issues (cont.): Figure 59. Uneven size for seeding equipment 10 Not a Slight Moderate Severe Figure Germination / emergence Varietal integrity (i.e. not true to type) Seed quality s rated to severe Contamination by Physical Excessive chaff and weed seed in seed appearance looks foreign matter lots suboptimal Seedborne diseases Uneven size for seeding equipment Vegetables and Other Crops Field and Other Crops Forage and Other Crops Forage Crops Only Do you have more s with the above mentioned quality issues with untreated conventional seed or organic seed? Figure 61. Do you have more quality issues with untreated conventional seed or organic seed? 10 I have more s with organic seed. I have more s with untreated conventional seed. Problems are about the same for both untreated conventional and organic seed. 21

22 Figures How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements: Figure Strongly disagree Seed companies should conduct testing and report rates of GE (GMO) contamination in organic seed. Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree Figure 63. The regulatory framework in place is adequate to protect my organic farm product(s) from damages due to possible contamination by GE (GMO) crops. 35% 3 25% 15% 5% Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree Vegetables Field Crops Forage Crops Figure 64. My organic farm product(s) are at risk from seed contaminated by GE (GMO) traits. 35% 3 25% 15% 5% Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree Vegetables Field Crops Forage Crops 22

23 Appendix B Additional Graphs Figure 65. Comparison of increased organic seed use and certifier requesting more steps to source organic seed 10 78% Yes 59% 22% No 41% Certifier requested more steps to source organic seed Certifier did not request more steps Over the last three years have you increased the percentage of certified organic seed that you use? Figure 66. Organic seed use by crop type and acreage Percent organic seed used >480 Organic acreage Vegetables Field Crops Forage Crops Figure 67. Percent organic seed used Percent of total acreage by crop planted with organic seed Vegetables Field Crops Forage Crops Overall 23

24 Figure 68. Reasons rated to significant for not purchasing organic seed in the past 10 Growers with > 40 acres of vegetables and < 3 organic seed for those acres All vegetable growers Lack of seed treatments such as pelleting or priming Buyer demands varieties not available organically Insufficient quantity of seed Save my own seed Distrust of organic seed quality Price Specific variety not available Lack of desirable genetic traits Seed sizing Other 24