Why Grow Organic?
Just as each organic farm is unique, each farmer has unique reasons for farming organically.
According to the North Dakota Rural Life Poll conducted in 2006 by Dr. Curt Stofferahn for the Center for Rural Studies at the University of North Dakota, farmers identified the following top 10 reasons for farming organically:
- Maintaining the economic sustainability of the farm
- Avoiding chemicals for reasons of family/worker health
- Land stewardship/ecological sustainability
- Avoiding chemicals for the health of the environment
- Organic represents good farming practices
- Quality of organically grown produce
- Community values, tradition, quality of life
- Reduced input costs
- Organic price premiums
- Growing consumer demand for organic products
The survey found many other reasons for choosing to farm organically, including philosophical, spiritual and ethical ones. To read the entire report go to 2006 North Dakota Rural Life Poll
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