Comparison of Organic and Conventional Crops at the Neely-Kinyon Long-term Agroecological Research (LTAR) Site, 2002

Sales of organic products are expected to reach $8 billion in the U.S. in the year 2001, showing a continued 20% annual growth rate. In Iowa alone, organic acreage for all crops has increased from 13,000 in 1995 to 150,000 in 1999. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture has identified the need for dedicated lands throughout Iowa where research on organic practices can be conducted over the long term. In the third year of the N-K LTAR, organic certification was obtained through the State of Iowa Organic program. We continued our examination of the agronomic and economic performance of conventional and organic systems, using required practices for certified organic production.