The 2015 Certified Organic Survey collected certified organic crop information for the number of operations harvesting and selling organic forages, acreage harvested, quantity produced, quantity sold and value of sales.
The 2015 Certified Organic Survey was the fourth organic production survey and second certified organic-only production survey conducted at the state and national levels by NASS. Previous surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2014 in conjunction with USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). The surveys target all known farms meeting the standards of the National Organic Program (NOP).
Compared with the 2014 survey results, the number of farms harvesting organic forages declined in 2015. However, the 2014 survey included “exempt” organic farms – those with sales of less than $5,000 annually and exempt from fees associated with organic certification. The 2015 survey includes only certified organic operations.
Previous surveys also listed forages raised under organic practices, but sold on conventional markets.
When reporting the results, the USDA withholds state data that may disclose information about the operations of an individual farm or business.
National, state data
All dry hay
According to USDA data, 3,451 farms harvested about 1.2 million tons of organic all dry hay from 430,331 acres in 2015. Of those farms, 1,948 reported sales of 579,766 tons, with a total value of $116.8 million.
Wisconsin led all states in the number of farms harvesting organic all dry hay, at 563, and selling organic dry hay, at 260.
Although it had only 105 farms harvesting organic dry hay, Idaho led all states for harvested area, with 50,404 acres. New York, Wisconsin, Oregon and California each topped 30,000 acres.
Oregon was the sales leader in this category, with 71 operations selling 94,509 tons with a value of $22.8 million. Idaho’s sales of 89,781 tons were valued at $17.9 million. Also in the West, 92 California operations sold 65,048 tons of dry hay valued at $14.9 million. Harvested area was estimated at 31,173 acres.
Alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay
When looking at alfalfa/alfalfa mixture dry hay, 2,055 farms harvested 811,966 tons from 248,569 acres in 2015. Of those farms, 1,186 reported sales of 440,398 tons, with a total value of $97.2 million.
Wisconsin also led all states in the number of farms harvesting organic alfalfa and alfalfa mixture hay, at 397. Of those, 197 sold hay.
Idaho was the leader in alfalfa/alfalfa mixture dry hay harvested area, at 48,783 acres, followed by Wisconsin, Oregon, Minnesota and California.
Idaho was the volume sales leader, with 88,838 tons valued at $17.8 million. Oregon was the value sales leader, with 78,459 tons valued at $19.9 million.
Other dry hay
For other dry hay, 1,673 farms harvested 399,702 tons from 181,762 acres in 2015. Of those farms, 921 reported sales of 139,368 tons, with a total value of $19.5 million.
New York also led all states in the number of farms harvesting and selling other organic dry hay, as well as harvested acreage.
California was the volume and value sales leader, with 21,921 tons valued at about $3.7 million.
Haylage and greenchop
Beyond dry hay, 1,412 farms harvested 869,914 tons of all haylage/greenchop from 160,878 acres. Of those, 461 farms reported sales of 159,212 tons, valued at $15.6 million.
Wisconsin and New York led all states in the number of farms harvesting and selling all organic haylage and greenchop, but California led all others in tonnage (39,174 tons) and value ($3.9 million) of sales.
Total U.S. alfalfa/alfalfa mixture haylage and greenchop acreage was estimated at 54,426 acres on 655 farms, with a total harvest of 279,955 tons. About 195 farms reported sales of 46,711 tons, valued at $6.7 million.
Wisconsin topped all states and categories for alfalfa/alfalfa mixture haylage and greenchop, with 19,038 acres harvested, 13,477 tons sold and a sales value of about $1.5 million.
About 106,452 acres of other haylage/greenchop was harvested on 845 farms, with a total harvest of 589,959 tons. About 278 farms reported sales of 112,501 tons and a value of $8.9 million.
New York topped all states and categories for other haylage and greenchop, with 24,141 acres harvested, 9,998 tons sold and a sales value of about $770,018.
Corn silage and greenchop
U.S. organic corn silage harvested area was estimated at 35,149 acres on 947 farms, with a total harvest of 552,324 tons. Sales were reported on 143 farms, with 59,730 tons valued at $4.3 million.
While Wisconsin had the most farms (210) and acreage (6,778 acres) producing organic corn silage, Colorado was the sales leader, selling 10,486 tons valued at $633,304.
Sorghum silage and greenchop
There were 117 farms harvesting organic sorghum silage/greenchop in 2015, with total U.S. harvested area estimated at 8,587 acres and total volume of 94,309 tons. Just 26 farms reported sales of 20,499 tons, with a value of $1.1 million.
Texas was the acreage and sales leader for sorghum silage, selling 12,810 tons valued at $688,539. 
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Dave Natzke
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