Greenfield, Massachusets
December 23, 2008
Organic Trade Association
research details organic cotton production
U.S. acreage planted with organic cotton increased for second
straight year, according to research compiled by the
Organic Trade Association
(OTA). Analysis of available data found that the total acres
planted in organic cotton grew from 8,510 in 2007 to 9,279 in
2008, constituting a nine percent increase.
Harvest acreage figures for 2008 are not yet available. Other
findings show 14,025 bales of organic cotton were harvested in
2007, representing a 73 percent increase over the previous year,
when the total number of bales was 8,116. The U.S. organic
cotton harvest represents about 2.1 percent of total global
organic cotton production.
To compile the research, OTA surveyed organic cotton farmers in
the United States who grew organic cotton in 2007, and combined
those results with acreage and harvest figures from the Texas
Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative. Ten of 62 farms surveyed
returned surveys that met the criteria for analysis. OTA's
survey, funded by Cotton Inc., asked about the types of cotton
planted and harvested. Survey respondents planted 2,590 acres of
organic upland cotton and 245 acres of organic pima cotton. In
2007, survey respondents harvested 1,716 acres of organic upland
cotton and 225 acres of organic pima cotton.
Other survey findings revealed that changes are taking place
within the organic cotton market. Organic cotton farmers saw the
range in average price they received per pound increase from
between $0.85 and $1.25 for organic upland cotton in 2006 to
between $1 and $1.50 in 2007. Organic pima cotton farmers saw a
similar increase in price, ranging from $1.65 to $2.09 in 2006
to $1.05 to $3 in 2007.
Additional findings from this year's survey make clear that
several challenges lie ahead for U.S. organic cotton producers.
Such producers remain in need of educational and economic
resources to support their organic practices and build awareness
of and access to high-quality markets for their organic cotton
products.
Despite these challenges, survey data and projections from
farmers forecast growth in production of U.S. organic cotton to
approximately 12,000 acres, a 29 percent increase from 2008.
Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent
pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal
regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for
organic farming. All cotton sold as organic in the United States
must meet strict federal regulations covering how the cotton is
grown.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based
business association for organic agriculture and products in
North America. Its approximately 1,700 members include growers,
shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations,
distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and
others. OTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of
organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public
and the economy. |
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