Organic Farmers in the US: Opportunities, Realities and Barriers

Leslie A. Duram

Abstract
The objective of this article is to describe both the opportunities provided to farmers who adopt organic farming methods and the barriers farmers must overcome along the path of converting to organic methods.

Five case study organic farms from across the US are presented and factors that influence these farming operations are detailed. Based on case study analysis, key influences are found to be: economic, ecological, societal, and personal variables.

Overall, organic farmers face both multiple opportunities and complex barriers that they must mediate in their on-farm decision-making.

See the complete paper on the Plant Management Network website.


Source
Crop Management (2006), online
DOI :10.1094/CM-2006-0921-03-RV.


Author Location & Affiliation
Department of Geography and Environmental Resources, Southern Illinois University. E-mail: duram@siu.edu


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Posted October 2008