The Sustainable Agriculture Extension Program at the University of Missouri and Lincoln University, along with the Missouri Alternatives Center, sponsored four regional organic workshops in early December last year. At the Southeast Missouri Regional Organic Workshop held in Cape Girardeau, Cheryl Brown, professor of Agricultural Economics at Southeast Missouri State University gave the following presentation. It is summarized in outline form. There were over 5,000 certified organic farms in 1995. It is estimated that at least 6,000 additional farms meet organic certification requirements but are not certified.
Many organic consumers are interested in environmental protection.
Consumers ranked concern about impacts of pesticides on the environment, groundwater, wildlife, or agricultural workers higher than other concerns. Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.