that all farms and handling operations that display 
the “USD A Organic” seal must be certified organic 
by the state or by a private agency, accredited by the 
USDA, to ensure the National Organics standards 
are followed. Farms that follow the National Organic 
standards and have less than $5,000 in annual sales 
can be exempt from certification. These exempt 
farms may use the term “organic” but may not use 
the “USDA Organic” seal. The 2014 Organic Survey 
did not include organic handlers and processors. 
ORGANIC DATA COMPARABILITY 
The 2014 Organic Survey results reflect the industry 
as of the time the list was built and the 2014 
production year. Comparisons with other NASS 
publications and other non-NASS sources must 
allow for differences in reference periods, organic 
definitions, and weighting methodologies. 
Comparisons to data from the 2012 Census of 
Agriculture (COA) must allow for differences in 
reference periods. The 2012 COA provided 
information on the number of farms and value of 
sales. The weighting methodology for the 2012 
COA and the 2014 Organic Survey included 
adjustments for nonresponse, coverage, and 
misclassification. The 2011 Certified Organic 
Production Survey only included certified production 
while the 2014 Organic Survey includes certified, 
exempt, and transitional organic farms. The 2008 
Organic Production Survey did not include 
misclassification adjustments which were performed 
for the 2014 Organic Survey. 
REFERENCE PERIOD 
Crop, livestock and poultry production, production 
expenses, production practices, insurance practices, 
and marketing practices are measured for January 1, 
2014, through December 31, 2014. 
TABLES AND APPENDICES 
Chapter 1. Tables 1 through 27 indicate combined 
data for certified and exempt organic farms at the 
U.S. and state levels. 
Chapter 2. Tables 28 through 54 indicate data for 
certified organic operations only at the U.S. and state 
levels. 
VIII Introduction 
Chapter 3. Tables 55 through 80 indicate data for 
exempt organic operations only at the U.S. and state 
levels. 
Chapter 4. Tables 81 through 92 indicate data for 
transitioning operations at the U.S. and state levels. 
Appendix A. Provides information about data 
collection and data processing activities and 
discusses the statistical methodology used in 
conducting and evaluating the survey. Table A 
provides the sample counts and response rates for the 
United States and for each state. Table B indicates 
the total organic farm counts on the 2012 Census of 
Agriculture and the total organic farm counts and 
total organic acres from the 2014 Organic Survey. 
Table C provides statistical precision estimates for 
the number of farms and acres and the total value of 
sales for the United States and for each state. 
Appendix B. Includes definitions of specific terms 
and phrases used in this publication. It also provides 
an example of the report form and instruction sheet 
used to collect data. 
RESPONDENT CONFIDENTIALITY 
In keeping with the provisions of Title 7 of the 
United States Code, no data are published that would 
disclose information about the operations of an 
individual farm or ranch. All tabulated data are 
subjected to an extensive disclosure review prior to 
publication. Any tabulated item that identifies data 
reported by a respondent or allows a respondent’s 
data to be accurately estimated or derived, was 
suppressed and coded with a “D.” However, the 
number of farms reporting an item is not considered 
confidential information and is provided even though 
other information is withheld. 
SUBJECT SERIES REPORTS AND CUSTOM 
TABULATIONS 
The 2014 Organic Survey data, as well as the 2012 
Census of Agriculture Volume 1 Geographic Area 
Series and related reports, are available on the NASS 
website at www.nass.usda.gov . If you would like to 
learn more about the statistics available from NASS 
or have questions concerning this report, send an 
2012 Census of Agriculture 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
