State of Organic Seed (SOS) Report Part 3

1. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #1: In which state do you farm? 1027 responses from 45 states and territories.
Q #2: How many Figure 1. years have you been certified organic?
Figure 2. Q #3: Last year, did you have any organic acres in annual vegetables?
Q #4: Last year, how many organic acres did you have in annual
vegetables?
1
3%
31%
21% 19%
14%
7%
4%
1%
<1 1-3 4-6 7-10 11-15 16-20 21-30 >30
Percentage of
Respondents
Years Certified
Yes
43%
No
57%
50%
27%
12%
3% 3% 4% 1%
0.01-3 4-10 11-50 51-80 81-160 161-480 >480
Percentage of
Respondents
Organic Acres in Annual Fruits and Vegetables
Figure 3.

2. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #5: Last year, what approximate percentage of total acreage of annual
vegetables was planted with certified organic seed?
Q #6: Percent organic seed Figure 5. used for TOMATOES - the #1 vegetable
Q #6: Percent organic seed used for SUMMER / WINTER SQUASH - the #2
vegetable
2
7%
18%
5% 6%
4%
8%
4% 2%
12%
8% 7%
19%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of vegetable acreage planted with organic seed
Figure 4.
Q #6: Last year, what were your top three annual vegetable crops by acreage, and what percentage of
certified organic seed did you use for each?
9%
5% 4% 5% 3% 5% 4% 4%
12%
6% 6%
38%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of organic seed used for tomatoes
10% 12%
6% 7%
4%
8%
1% 1%
7% 6% 4%
34%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of organic seed used for squash
Figure 6.

3. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #6: Percent organic Figure 7. seed used for GREENS - the #3 vegetable
Figure 8. Q #7: Last year, did you have any organic acres in field crops?
Figure 9. Q #8: Last year how many organic acres did you have in field crops?
3
1%
6%
2% 4% 3% 5% 3% 1%
18%
4% 6%
49%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of organic seed used for greens
Yes
60%
No
40%
9% 7%
26%
15% 17% 18%
9%
0.01-3 4-10 11-50 51-80 81-160 161-480 >480
Percentage of
Respondents
Organic Acres in Field Crops

4. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #9: Last year, what approximate percentage (%) of total acreage of field
crops was planted with certified organic seed?
Q #10: Percent organic Figure 11. seed used for CORN - the #1 field crop
Figure 12. Q #10: Percent organic seed used for SOYBEANS - the #2 field crop
4
10%
3% 1% 4% 3%
9%
3% 2%
9% 7%
2%
47%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of field crop acreage planted with organic seed
Figure 10.
Q #10: Last year, what were your top 3 field crops by acreage? And what percentage of organic seed
do you use for each?
8% 2% 2% 2% 2% 4% 2% 0% 5% 2% 0%
69%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of organic seed used for corn
15%
3% 1% 1% 0% 3% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1%
73%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of organic seed used for soybeans

5. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #10: Percent organic Figure 13. seed used for WHEAT - the #3 field crop
Figure 14. Q #11: Last year, did you have any organic acres in forage crops?
Q #12: Last year, how many organic acres in a given season do you have in
forage crops?
5
21%
0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 2% 0% 1% 1% 0%
73%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of organic seed used for wheat
Yes
No 48%
52%
4%
8%
29%
16%
25%
15%
2%
0.01-3 4-10 11-50 51-80 81-160 161-480 >480
Percentage of
Respondents
Organic Acres in Forage Crops
Figure 15.

6. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #13: Last year, what approximate percentage (%) of total acreage of
forage crops is planted with certified organic seed?
Q #14: Last year, what approximate percentage (%) of total acreage of
green manure and cover crops is planted with certified organic seed?
Q #15: In the last year, what percent of your seed did you get from the
6
25%
4% 2% 4% 2% 6%
1% 1%
6% 4% 3%
44%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of forage crop acreage planted with organic seed
Figure 16.
38%
4% 2% 2% 1%
7%
1% 1% 5% 2% 1%
36%
0 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-99 100
Percentage of
Respondents
Percentage of cover crop acreage planted with organic seed
Figure 17.
17%
43%
1%
28%
5% 5%
following sources?
Produce your own
Seed broker
Printed or internet catalogs
Garden centers
Other farmers
Other
Figure 18.

7. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #16: Over the last 3 years have you increased the percentage of organic
seed that you use?
Q #17: Over the last three years has your certifier requested that you take
greater steps to source organic seed?
Q #18: Check which Figure 21. additional steps your certifier has requested.
7
57%
71%
24%
29%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
All respondents Respondents not using 100% OG seed
for last 3 years
Have been using 100%
certified organic seed for
at least 3 years
No
Yes
Figure 19.
20%
Yes
61%
No
39%
Figure 20.
32% 33%
58%
23%
Trialing of available
organic varieties
Searching OMRI seed
database
Researching more
than three seed
catalogs
Other
Percentage of
Respondents

8. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Figure 2 2 . Q #19: The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past.
Not a factor Slight
Figure 23. Q #19: Factors rated moderate to significant for not purchasing organic seed
8
factor
Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Lack of seed treatments such as
pelleting or priming
82% 7% 5% 3% 3%
Buyer demands varieties not available
organically 68% 5% 7% 4% 16%
Insufficient quantity of seed 40% 10% 15% 12% 23%
Save my own seed 52% 11% 10% 6% 21%
Distrust of organic seed quality 71% 8% 10% 5% 6%
Price 46% 13% 16% 9% 16%
Specific variety not available 17% 3% 9% 12% 58%
Lack of desirable genetic traits 43% 9% 12% 11% 24%
Seed sizing 80% 10% 6% 2% 2%
Other 72% 1% 3% 4% 19%
11%
27%
50%
37%
20%
41%
79%
47%
10%
26%
Lack of seed
treatments
such as
pelleting or
priming
Buyer
demands
varieties not
available
organically
Insufficient
quantity of
seed
Save my own
seed
Distrust of
organic seed
quality
Price Specific
variety not
available
Lack of
desirable
genetic traits
Seed sizing Other
Percent rating as moderate
to significant

9. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #20: What organic seed quality issues you have experienced?
Figure 25. Q #20: Problems producers have had with organic seed quality
9
Not a
problem
Slight
problem
Moderate
problem
More than
moderate
problem
Severe
problem
Figure 24.
Germination / emergence 52% 17% 17% 11% 4%
Varietal integrity (i.e. not true to type) 63% 16% 10% 7% 4%
Contamination by weed seed in seed
lots 70% 15% 9% 3% 3%
Physical appearance looks suboptimal 71% 15% 9% 3% 2%
Excessive chaff and foreign matter 81% 14% 4% 1% 1%
Seedborne diseases 80% 11% 6% 2% 1%
Uneven size for seeding equipment 82% 11% 4% 3% 1%
Other 81% 3% 3% 6% 7%
31%
21%
14% 13%
6%
9% 7%
16%
Germination /
emergence
Varietal integrity (i.e.
not true to type)
Contamination by weed
seed in seed lots
Physical appearance
looks suboptimal
Excessive chaff and
foreign matter
Seedborne diseases Uneven size for
seeding equipment
Other
Percent rating Issue as
moderate to severe

10. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #21: Do you have more problems with the above mentioned quality issues
Figure 28. Q #23: The regulatory framework in place is adequate to protect
10
3%
23%
73%
with untreated conventional seed or organic seed?
I have more problems with
untreated conventional seed.
I have more problems with
organic seed.
Problems are about the same for
both untreated conventional and
organic seed.
Figure 26.
Questions 22 ± 26: How strongly do you agree or disagree with the statements:
37% 37%
21%
2% 4%
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
Percentage of Respondents
Q #22: Seed companies should conduct testing and report rates of GE (GMO)
contamination in organic seed
Figure 27.
6%
21%
31%
21% 22%
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
Percentage of Respondents
my organic farm product(s) from damages due to possible
contamination by GE (GMO) crops

11. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the statements (cont.):
Figure 29. Q #24: My organic farm products are at risk from seed
Figure 30. Q #25: Organic seed is important in maintaining the
Figure 31. Q #26: Varieties bred for organic system management are
11
14%
27%
31%
20%
9%
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
Percentage of Respondents
contaminated by GE (GMO) traits
44%
34%
13%
6%
3%
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
Percentage of Respondents
integrity of organic food production
45%
38%
12%
3% 2%
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
Percentage of Respondents
important to the overall success of organic agriculture

12. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #27: Do you Figure 32. think that there are crops in need of organic breeding?
Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in SOYBEANS - the #2 field crop
in need of breeding
Yield Pest Resistance Quality Percentage of Respondents
12
Yes
65%
No
35%
Q #28: The highest priority crops you feel are in need of organic breeding (crop improvement) and the
most important traits to breed for in those crops.
Top three crops and top three traits listed. Please see Summary for descriptions and examples of traits.
36%
20%
12%
Yield Quality Vigor
Percentage of Respondents
Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in CORN - the #1 field crop in
need of breeding
Figure 33.
42%
20% 19%
Figure 34.

13. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
27% 27%
13
22%
Pest Resistance Yield Disease Resistance
Percentage of Respondents
Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in ALFALFA- the #3 field crop in
need of breeding
Figure 35.
82%
12% 12%
Disease Resistance Flavor Yield
Percentage of Respondents
Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in TOMATOES- the #1 vegetable
crop in need of breeding
Figure 36.
29%
23%
17%
Uniformity Disease Resistance Appearance
Percentage of Respondents
Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in BRASSICAS- the #2 vegetable
crop in need of breeding
Figure 37.

14. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #29: Do you produce organic seed?*
Q #30: Are you interested in producing organic seed for commercial use?
14
43%
20%
17%
Disease Resistance Uniformity Quality
Percentage of Respondents
Q #28: Three most important traits to breed for in WINTER / SUMMER SQUASH
- the #3 vegetable crop in need of breeding
Figure 38.
39%
49%
9% 3%
No, I do not produce organic seed
either for on-farm or commercial use.
I produce organic seed for on-farm
use only.
I produce organic seed commercially.
I have produced organic seed
commercially in the past but not
currently.
*Total greater than 100% because more than one response may apply
Figure 39.
19%
49%
32%
Yes, definitely
No
I am interested if economic
opportunity and training are
available.
Figure 40.

15. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Q #31: Are you interested in conducting crop improvement/breeding on your
Lack of seed treatments such as pelleting or priming
15
21%
40%
39%
farm?
Yes, definitely
No
I am interested if economic
opportunity and training are
available.
Figure 41.
Appendix A - Breakdown of specific questions by crop type (vegetable, field, forage)
437
562
431
182
111
58
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Vegetables
and Other
Crops
Field and Other
Crops
Forage and
Other Crops
Vegetables
Only
Field Crops
Only
Forage Crops
Only
Figure 42. Number of respondents who produce specific crop types
Figures 43 ± 52: The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past:
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 43.

16. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past (cont.):
Processor (buyer) demands varieties in contract that are not available organically
Insufficient quantity of seed
16
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 44.
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 45.
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Save my own seed
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 46.

17. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past (cont.):
Distrust of organic seed quality
Specific variety not available
17
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 47.
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Price
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 48.
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 49.

18. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
The reasons you have not purchased organic seed in the past (cont.):
Lack of desirable genetic traits
Reasons rated moderate to significant for not purchasing organic seed in the past
18
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 50.
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a factor Slight factor Moderate
factor
More than
moderate
factor
Significant
factor
Seed sizing
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 51.
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Lack of seed
treatments
such as
pelleting or
priming
buyer demands
varieties not
available
organically
Insufficient
quantity of
seed
Save my own
seed
Distrust of
organic seed
quality
Price Specific variety
not available
Lack of
desirable
genetic traits
Seed sizing
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 52.

19. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Figures 53 - 60. What organic seed quality issues you have experienced?
Germination/emergence
Varietal integrity (i.e. not true to type)
Contamination by weed seed in seed lots
19
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a
problem
Slight
problem
Moderate
problem
More than
moderate
problem
Severe
problem
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 53.
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a problem Slight problem Moderate
problem
More than
moderate
problem
Severe
problem
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 54.
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a problemSlight problem Moderate
problem
More than
moderate
problem
Severe
problem
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 55.

20. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Physical appearance looks suboptimal
Excessive chaff and foreign matter
20
Organic seed quality issues (cont.):
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not a problemSlight problem Moderate
problem
More than
moderate
problem
Severe
problem
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 56.
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Not a problem Slight problem Moderate
problem
More than
moderate
problem
Severe
problem
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 57.
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Not a problem Slight problem Moderate
problem
More than
moderate
problem
Severe
problem
Seedborne diseases
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 58.

21. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Uneven size for seeding equipment
Do you have more quality issues with untreated conventional seed or organic seed?
21
Organic seed quality issues (cont.):
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Not a problem Slight problem Moderate
problem
More than
moderate
problem
Severe
problem
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 59.
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Germination /
emergence
Varietal integrity
(i.e. not true to
type)
Contamination by
weed seed in seed
lots
Physical
appearance looks
suboptimal
Excessive chaff and
foreign matter
Seedborne
diseases
Growers produce:
Uneven size for
seeding equipment
Seed quality problems rated moderate to severe
Vegetables and
Other Crops
Field and Other
Crops
Forage and
Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops
Only
Figure 60.
Do you have more problems with the above mentioned quality issues with untreated conventional seed
or organic seed?
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
I have more problems with
organic seed.
I have more problems with
untreated conventional seed.
Problems are about the same for
both untreated conventional and
organic seed.
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 61.

22. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Figures 62 - 64. How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Seed companies should conduct testing and report rates of GE (GMO) contamination in
organic seed.
The regulatory framework in place is adequate to protect my organic farm product(s)
from damages due to possible contamination by GE (GMO) crops.
My organic farm product(s) are at risk from seed contaminated by GE (GMO) traits.
22
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Strongly
disagree
Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
Growers produce:
Vegetables and Other Crops
Field and Other Crops
Forage and Other Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 62.
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Strongly
disagree
Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
Growers produce:
Vegetables
Field Crops
Forage Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 63.
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Strongly
disagree
Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
Growers produce:
Vegetables
Field Crops
Forage Crops
Vegetables Only
Field Crops Only
Forage Crops Only
Figure 64.

23. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Comparison of increased organic seed use and certifier requesting more steps to
source organic seed
Organic seed use by crop type and acreage
Percent of total acreage by Figure 67. crop planted with organic seed
23
Appendix B ± Additional Graphs
78%
22%
59%
41%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Yes No
Over the last three years have you increased the percentage of certified organic seed that you
use?
Certifier requested
more steps to
source organic
seed
Certifier did not
request more
steps
Figure 65.
100
80
60
40
20
0
0.01-3 4-10 11-50 51-80 81-160 161-480 >480
Percent organic seed used
Organic acreage
Vegetables
Field Crops
Forage Crops
Figure 66.
29
70
54
63
Vegetables Field Crops Forage Crops Overall
Percent organic seed used

24. State of Organic Seed Report 2010:
Organic Seed Survey Results
Reasons rated moderate to significant for not purchasing organic seed in the past
24
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Lack of seed
treatments
such as
pelleting or
priming
Buyer
demands
varieties not
available
organically
Insufficient
quantity of
seed
Save my own
seed
Distrust of
organic seed
quality
Price Specific
variety not
available
Lack of
desirable
genetic traits
Seed sizing Other
Growers with > 40 acres of
vegetables and < 30%
organic seed for those
acres
All vegetable growers
Figure 68.