Interest in establishing nationally uniform certification, labeling, and management standards for organic products grew out of concern that the existence of multiple standards led to consumer and supply chain confusion about, and lack of confidence in, these products. The National Organic Program Final Rule, issued in December 2000, is the result of this interest. We analyze the certification system that was in place prior to the new national rule to evaluate the extent of differences between certification standards and how the national rule is likely to impact the market for organic products. Our analysis suggests that most differences among US certification standards were minor. Also, the most important impacts of the national standard may be in facilitating trade in ingredients and products certified by different certifiers, increasing buyer confidence, and facilitating exports. However, the national rule may decrease the ability of organic certifiers and consumers to place differing emphasis on the multiple goals of organic production and may decrease the flexibility of organic standards to respond to changing market conditions, including new technologies.

Compared with conventional farms, organic farms are expected to be more diverse, less specialized and less intensive, and as a group contribute to a more uniform regional distribution of farm types. Data on farm size, crop distribution and livestock intensity prior to conversion and planned after conversion on 448 Danish farms, which began conversion to organic farming in 1997, are presented by addressing two questions: (1) what features characterize Danish farms that convert from conventional to organic farming; and (2) do farm types, stocking rates and crop distribution change with conversion? In 1997, dairy farms dominated among the converting farms in hectarage, and a large majority (80–97%) of the farmers of all farm types planned to continue with the same type of production system after conversion. Thus, the regional characterization pattern in organic farm types will be similar to that of conventional farms. Although the total number of livestock units on the converting farms is planned to increase by 6% following conversion to organic farming, they are well below average in stocking rates compared with all Danish farms both before and after conversion. Farmers also plan changes in crop distribution: a 20% decrease in the hectarage for cereal production; a doubling of the hectarage for grassland in rotation; a decrease in hectarage for set-aside, row crops and oilseed rape; and roughage and seeds unchanged. Planned changes in crop distribution differ between farm types. The need to include aspects of diversity and production intensity, on both the farm and the larger scale, in the evaluation of the future direction in organic farming is discussed.

Interest in organic dairying is increasing at a rapid pace in California, and the demand for organic milk and dairy products is growing even faster. The intent of this study was to determine the cost of organic milk production, and in particular, to determine the differences in cost of production of organic and conventional milk. Primarily we are interested in whether the differences are due to government-mandated requirements or whether they are the result of optional procedures or personal preferences. Previous studies have indicated that under organic production, the higher net returns observed on organic farming enterprises are due mainly to the lower cost of production. This conclusion is not sustained here. Our results show that the total cost of production on a per cow and a per hundredweight basis is 10–20% higher for organic producers than for conventional producers. While not strongly statistically significant, the differences appear to be due to higher feed costs, higher average labor costs, significantly higher herd replacement costs, and significant transition costs

Outdoor pig production, usually gestation, farrowing and lactation, is an alternative swine production system that is increasing in popularity. The outdoor farrowing hut is the principal modifier of the environment for the sow and litter, as well as the primary structure to reduce prewean mortality. Prewean mortality of piglets is a major problem for both indoor and outdoor swine herds. Five types of floorless individual farrowing huts were evaluated over 4 years, during the month of September in Iowa. A total of 206 litters by primiparous crossbred sows were farrowed. Piglet deaths for the first 14 days after farrowing were recorded. Hut type had an effect on piglet prewean mortality (P < 0.10). The arc-style hut and the blunt-top A hut had only about one-third as many litters with piglet mortalities and a lower prewean mortality percentage (3.8 versus 8.5%) than an inverted U hut. This difference would be approximately a half pig/litter increase in litter size at weaning. The superior huts each had a distinct and ample sow area and safe pig areas. The safe pig areas were made by a sloping or curved roofline that came to the ground (the arc-style hut) or with guard rails (the blunt-top A hut). Overall prewean mortality for the study was low (6.0%). Crushing of piglets accounted for 93% of the prewean mortality. The study shows that outdoor farrowing systems can achieve competitiveness with low piglet mortality particularly if superior huts are used. Selection of the outdoor farrowing hut is a critical decision in planning outdoor swine farrowing systems.

This study assesses consumer perceptions of sustainably produced foods and evaluates whether a supermarket point-of-purchase intervention could increase shoppers' awareness of a campaign designed to promote purchases of sustainably produced foods. The in-store intervention involved the promotion of sustainably produced apples labeled with the Midwest Food Alliance's (MWFA) seal of approval. Minnesota consumers were surveyed at two eastern metropolitan area intervention stores and one eastern metropolitan area comparison store. The in-store campaign lasted 8 weeks and involved individually labeled apples, point-of-purchase materials, and weekly food demonstrations. Prior to campaign initiation, baseline surveys were administered to consumers in two test stores and one comparison store. Follow-up surveys were mailed to these same consumers upon conclusion of the campaign intervention. Independent samples t-tests comparing change from baseline to post intervention indicated that a statistically higher percentage of consumers in the test-market group had heard of the Midwest Food Alliance campaign. Furthermore, a statistically higher percentage of the test-market shoppers reported seeing signs and labels promoting the MWFA, indicating that the promotion had some impact. Baseline data gathered from all consumers indicated that foods produced with sustainable practices were important to consumers; however, food characteristics of freshness, taste, safety and healthfulness were most important. The majority of consumers reported that they would be willing to pay 10–30% more for selected sustainably produced foods. Research results indicated that an 8–week in-store intervention was effective at increasing consumer awareness of the MWFA. However, a more powerful intervention (including a longer promotion period with more labeled foods) may be needed to induce shoppers to increase their purchases of sustainably produced foods promoted by the MWFA.