Engaging the Organic Conventionalization Debate - Re-Thinking Organic Food and Farming in a Changing World - page 168

Table 9.2 Texas organic certified farm operations: 1997-2008; Certified organic farmland: 1997-
2008 (in acres) and Certified livestock/poultry: 1997-2008

% change

Item 1997 2002 2007 2008 97-02 02-07 07-08

Operations a 2 150 227 279 7,400 51.3 22.9

Pasture & Crops 30,880 279,506 418,652 450,706 805 49.8 7.7
Livestock n/d 6,065 23,099 39,535 n/d 280.9 71.2
Poultry n/d 21,000 51,000 329,378 n/d 142.9 545.8
Source: Economic Research Service ( 2012 ), Table 9.2 : based on information from USDA-
accredited State and private organic certifiers
a Does not include subcontracted organic farm operations

In 2008 a mail survey was conducted with a representative sample of producers
in Texas, stratified by commodity (York et al. 2007 ). Based on the orientation toward
organics, the respondents were classified into three groups: Conventionals (no inter-
est in organics); Pragmatic Conventionals (at least some interest in organics); and
Organic (self-identified as organic producers). Of the 897 respondents used in this
analysis, 100 producers were organic, 464 were conventional producers, and 334
were pragmatic conventional producers. Tables 9.3 , 9.4 , and 9.5 report significant
differences among the three groups regarding the structural and attitudinal aspects
of organics.
Data reported in Table 9.3 indicate that Pragmatic Conventionals fall between
the Conventionals and Organics regarding years farming, but in general they are
more similar to the Conventionals. Regarding annual sales, notice that Pragmatic
Conventionals (44.2 %) are most likely to be larger operations than Conventionals
(39.8 %) and the Organics (18.8 %). Pragmatics are also more likely to be
expanding, least satisfied with their operation, and over 80 % indicate that revenue
support increases the likelihood of adoption.
Table 9.4 presents attitudinal information regarding philosophical and production
aspects of organics. It reveals that while the Pragmatics Conventionals are more sim-
ilar to Organics regarding their positive philosophical support for organic farming,
still about one-third are “not sure” or “disagree.” While Pragmatic Conventionals
indicate broad philosophical support for organics, they are much less sure about
its feasibility in organic production. The high levels of “not sure” across the four
questions indicate major barriers to adoption, as well as point to the need for
government intervention to reduce the uncertainty. In particular, about one-third
of Pragmatic Conventionals disagree organic compatibility with high production
farming.
Table 9.5 reports similar information regarding the marketing, informational,
and certification aspects of organics. It is noteworthy that majority of Pragmatic
Conventionals have concern about the financial viability of organics and the
economic risks of transition. They are similarly unsure and/or disagree that organic