IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i16p8682-d607905.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Organic Corn Production Practices and Profitability in the Eastern U.S. Corn Belt

Author

Listed:
  • Caroline Brock

    (Department of Sociology, University of Missouri, 322 Middlebush, Columbia, MO 65211, USA)

  • Douglas Jackson-Smith

    (School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 134 Williams Hall, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, USA)

  • Subbu Kumarappan

    (Agricultural Technical Institute, The Ohio State University, 1328 Dover Road, Halterman 089A, Wooster, OH 44691, USA)

  • Steve Culman

    (School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 134 Williams Hall, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, USA)

  • Cathy Herms

    (Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, USA)

  • Douglas Doohan

    (Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, USA)

Abstract

Efforts to assess and improve the sustainability performance of the growing organic farming sector depend on an accurate understanding of farm structure and management practices. To contribute to the dearth of literature in this area, we conducted a survey of over 850 certified organic corn growers in four states (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) in the spring of 2018. Findings show that most organic corn growers in this region had diversified livestock operations (mostly dairy) on relatively small farms (10–100 ha), which contrasts with trends of specialization and growth in farm size. More than half were dairy farmers, and nearly two-thirds farmed with horses (likely Amish). Soil fertility and health were managed by the use of manure, cover crops, forages, and a variety of other soil amendments. Organic corn growers relied heavily on moldboard plow tillage. All producers had positive net returns to labor and management in 2017, though net returns varied widely across operations. The results have implications for assessing the sustainability of organic farming systems, and for designing scientific research and extension/outreach programs to ensure they address the needs of the diverse organic farming population in this region.

Suggested Citation

  • Caroline Brock & Douglas Jackson-Smith & Subbu Kumarappan & Steve Culman & Cathy Herms & Douglas Doohan, 2021. "Organic Corn Production Practices and Profitability in the Eastern U.S. Corn Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:8682-:d:607905
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/8682/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/8682/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McBride, William D. & Greene, Catherine & Foreman, Linda & Ali, Mir, 2015. "The Profit Potential of Certified Organic Field Crop Production," Economic Research Report 262208, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Derek H. Lynch & Rod MacRae & Ralph C. Martin, 2011. "The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-41, January.
    3. Erin M. Silva & Virginia M. Moore, 2017. "Cover Crops as an Agroecological Practice on Organic Vegetable Farms in Wisconsin, USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, January.
    4. McBride, William D. & Greene, Catherine R., 2007. "A Comparison of Conventional and Organic Milk Production Systems in the U.S," 2007 Annual Meeting, July 29-August 1, 2007, Portland, Oregon 9680, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    5. Oscar José Rover & Adevan da Silva Pugas & Bernardo Corrado De Gennaro & Francesco Vittori & Luigi Roselli, 2020. "Conventionalization of Organic Agriculture: A Multiple Case Study Analysis in Brazil and Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Foreman, Linda F., 2014. "Characteristics and Production Costs of U.S. Corn Farms, Including Organic, 2010," Economic Information Bulletin 186730, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    7. Jennifer Hayden & Sarah Rocker & Hannah Phillips & Bradley Heins & Andrew Smith & Kathleen Delate, 2018. "The Importance of Social Support and Communities of Practice: Farmer Perceptions of the Challenges and Opportunities of Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems on Organically Managed Farms in the Northern U," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-26, December.
    8. Heather M. Beach & Ken W. Laing & Morris Van De Walle & Ralph C. Martin, 2018. "The Current State and Future Directions of Organic No-Till Farming with Cover Crops in Canada, with Case Study Support," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-15, January.
    9. Julius Alexander McGee & Camila Alvarez, 2016. "Sustaining without Changing: The Metabolic Rift of Certified Organic Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-12, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Syed Badruddoza & Andrea C. Carlson & Jill J. McCluskey, 2022. "Long‐term dynamics of US organic milk, eggs, and yogurt premiums," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(1), pages 45-72, January.
    2. Marcos Ferasso & Miguel Blanco & Lydia Bares, 2021. "Territorial Analysis of the European Rural Development Funds (ERDF) as a Driving Factor of Ecological Agricultural Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Baker, Brian & Russell, June, 2016. "Capturing a Value-Added Niche Market: Articulation of Local Organic Grain," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 252706, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Raissa Ulbrich & Claudia Pahl-Wostl, 2019. "The German Permaculture Community from a Community of Practice Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-21, February.
    5. MacDonald, James M. & O'Donoghue, Erik J. & McBride, William D. & Nehring, Richard F. & Sandretto, Carmen L. & Mosheim, Roberto, 2007. "Profits, Costs, and the Changing Structure of Dairy Farming," Economic Research Report 6704, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    6. Nehring, Richard F. & Sauer, Johannes & Gillespie, Jeffrey M. & Hallahan, Charles B., 2011. "Intensive versus Extensive Dairy Production Systems: Dairy States in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. and Key Pasture Countries the E.U.: Determining the Competitive Edge," 2011 Annual Meeting, February 5-8, 2011, Corpus Christi, Texas 98824, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    7. Erin M. Silva & Kathleen Delate, 2017. "A Decade of Progress in Organic Cover Crop-Based Reduced Tillage Practices in the Upper Midwestern USA," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-13, May.
    8. Ahearn, Mary Clare & Armbruster, Walt & Young, Robert, 2016. "Big Data's Potential to Improve Food Supply Chain Environmental Sustainability and Food Safety," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 19(A), pages 1-18, June.
    9. Carlson, Andrea & Greene, Catherine & Raszap Skorbiansky, Sharon & Hitaj, Claudia & Ha, Kim & Cavigelli, Michel & Ferrier, Peyton & McBride, William, 2023. "U.S. Organic Production, Markets, Consumers, and Policy, 2000-21," USDA Miscellaneous 333551, United States Department of Agriculture.
    10. Rosalia Stella Evola & Giovanni Peira & Erica Varese & Alessandro Bonadonna & Enrica Vesce, 2022. "Short Food Supply Chains in Europe: Scientific Research Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-20, March.
    11. Daniel Hellerstein & Catherine Greene & Maria Bowman, 2017. "Symphony of the Soil [documentary]. Directed, produced, and written by Deborah Koons. Lily Films. 2012," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 99(3), pages 840-842, April.
    12. Funtanilla, Margil & Lyford, Conrad P. & Wang, Chenggang, 2009. "An Evaluation of the Organic Cotton Marketing Opportunity," 2009 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, 2009, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 49359, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    13. Bilgesu Bayir & Aurélie Charles & Aicha Sekhari & Yacine Ouzrout, 2022. "Issues and Challenges in Short Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-20, March.
    14. Francesca Gori & Alessandra Castellini, 2023. "Alternative Food Networks and Short Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review Based on a Case Study Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    15. Emir Malikov & Gudbrand Lien, 2021. "Proxy Variable Estimation of Multiproduct Production Functions," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(5), pages 1878-1902, October.
    16. Raszap Skorbiansky, Sharon & Adjemian, Michael K. & Saitone, Tina L. & Sexton, Richard J., 2017. "Price Determination and Margin Volatility in Thinly Traded Commodity Markets: An Application to Major U.S. Field Crops," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258577, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    17. Sean Clark, 2020. "Financial Viability of an On-Farm Processing and Retail Enterprise: A Case Study of Value-Added Agriculture in Rural Kentucky (USA)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, January.
    18. Patrick Hatzenbuehler & Luis Peña-Lévano, 2022. "Adoption Potential of Sustainability-Related Agriculture Technologies for Smallholder Farmers in the Global South," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-11, October.
    19. Somasundaram Jayaraman & Yash P. Dang & Anandkumar Naorem & Kathryn L. Page & Ram C. Dalal, 2021. "Conservation Agriculture as a System to Enhance Ecosystem Services," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, July.
    20. McDonald, James M. & Law, Jonathan & Mosheim, Roberto, 2020. "Consolidation in U.S. Dairy Farming," Economic Research Report 303971, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:8682-:d:607905. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.