1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov August 14, 2015U.S. Farm Policy: Certified Organic Agricultural ProductionFoods produced using recognized organic farming methods, as certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and bearing the “USDA Organic” seal (shown here), account for a small but growi
2、ng share of the U.S. agricultural industry. Sales of organic foods totaled an estimated $35.9 billion in 2014, representing nearly 5% of all retail food sales in the United States (Figure 1). What Is “Organic Agriculture”? USDA defines organic agriculture as a production system that is managed in ac
3、cordance with the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA, 7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and USDA regulations intended to “respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity” (6
4、5 Federal Register 80550). USDA further defines organic agriculture as “using methods that preserve the environment and avoid most synthetic materials, such as pesticides and antibiotics.” USDA-approved “organic standards” describe the types of approved methods farmers and ranchers may use to grow c
