Certified Organic Production Ontario 2010
Anne Macey Canadian Organic Growers for the The Organic Council of Ontario May 2011
Table of Contents
1. Background and Methodology…………………………………….
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2. Farms and Farm Types …………………………………………….. 2.1 Number of Certified Organic Farms ……………………………... 2.2 Type of Farm Enterprise…………………………………………....
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3. Acreage in Organic Production……………………………………. 3.1 Grains and Oilseeds………………………………………………… 3.2 Vegetables, Herbs and Mushrooms …………………………….. 3.3 Fruit and Nuts ……………………………………………………….. 3.4 Forages, green manures, other …………………………….….....
5 5 7 7 8
4. Livestock ………………………………………………………………. 4.1 Organic Milk Production……………………………………………
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5. Acknowledgements…………………………………………………….
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List of Tables Table 1: Number of certified farms by region ………………………… Table 2: Type of farm enterprise by region …………………………… Table 3: Acreage under organic management ……………………….. Table 4: Organic Grains and Oilseeds – Acres 2010 ………………... Table 5: Organic Grains and Oilseeds – Hectares 2010…………….. Table 6: Organic Vegetable Production - Acres 2010………………… Table 7: Organic Vegetable Production - Hectares 2010…………….. Table 8: Organic Fruit and Nut Production – Acres 2010…………….. Table 9: Organic Fruit and Nut Production – Hectares 2010………… Table 10: Organic forages and other land use - Acres 2010…………. Table 11: Organic forages and other land use – Hectares 2010…….. Table 12: Numbers of animals, bee hives and poultry – 2010 ……….. Table 13: Organic Milk Production in Ontario 2000-2010……………..
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List of Figures: Figure 1: Numbers of certified farms in Ontario 1992 – 2010 ………. 4 Figure 2: Types of certified farm enterprise in Ontario 2010…………. 5 Figure 3: Organic milk production in Ontario………………………….. 10
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1. BACKGROUND and METHODOLOGY With the assistance of certification bodies across the country, Canadian Organic Growers (COG) has tracked the growth in the number of certified organic farms and processors since 1992. Data have also been collected on acreage in production and, for the last eight years, detailed breakdowns by crop type as well as livestock numbers have been requested from the CBs. While the data are often incomplete, the information is the most comprehensive available and is used by federal and provincial governments, NGOs, researchers, and those involved in the organic sector. Responding to a request in 2011 from the Ontario government for baseline organic data, Canadian Organic Growers and the Organic Council of Ontario collaborated to provide data on a regional basis for the province of Ontario. The annual COG survey was adapted for the purpose and all CBs operating in Ontario were asked to provide numbers for eastern, central, metro, western and northern regions of the province as defined by postal codes (K-Eastern; L-Central; M-Metro; N-Western; P-Northern). For the first time in several years detailed crop data were provided which are representative of all the primary producers in Ontario with the exception of a few farms that are Demeter certified only. All numbers reported are for the 2010 certification year unless otherwise stated. 2. FARMS and FARM TYPE 2.1 Number of certified organic farms The total number of certified farms in Ontario reported in 2010 was 685. It is down from the 716 reported for 2009 but it is unclear whether this is a decline in the number of certified operators or simply more accurate reporting by CBs. 2009 data might have included some farms that were in transition or the precertification year, but it could also be that more producers are dropping certification than are being replaced by new entrants. One certifier provided details on net changes but similar information was not obtained from all therefore no conclusions could be drawn and it is difficult to predict future trends. Although acreage continues to increase, the number of certified producers does not; this suggests it is the smaller farms that are dropping certification. Western Ontario has the highest number of organic farms with 64.5 % of the total followed by Eastern Ontario with 19%. Certified organic farm operations make up only 1.2% of the total number of farms reported in the 2006 census of agriculture; the percentage might be slightly higher once the results of the 2011 census are known.
Table 1: Number of certified farms by region Eastern Central Metro Western Northern # of certified primary 131 94 2 442 16 producers (farms) # in transition* 5 5 1 11 0 * Data on farms in transition are incomplete. There are likely more than reported here.
Total 685 33
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Figure 1: Numbers of certified farms in Ontario 1992 – 2010
800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
2.2 Type of Farm Enterprise Over the last few years there has been a change in the relative proportions of different types of farm enterprise. Compared with 2005 data the number of certified farms with field crops has increased by 40% whereas there has been little overall change in the numbers of vegetable producers or market gardens. The number of vineyards doubled in the same period. An increase in the number of dairy producers accounts for some of the increase in field crops (there were 78 dairy farms in 2010 compared with 44 in 2005). When all types of livestock operation are included the increase in livestock operations was 17%.
Table 2: Type of farm enterprise by region
Eastern Central Metro Field 115 crops/forages 50 Livestock * Vegetables & 20 market gardens 2 Orchard 1 Vineyard 2 Maple syrup 2 Greenhouse 1 Mushroom 8 CSA *Livestock includes poultry
Western
Northern
Total ON
59
1
394
14
515
17
0
125
1
165
24
0
93
0
133
8 10 1 1 4 1
0 0 0 1 0 0
12 1 2 3 1 7
0 0 1 0 0 0
22 12 6 7 6 16
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Figure 2: Types of certified farm enterprise in Ontario 2010
Types of certified enterprise Field crops Livestock Vegetables Orchard Vineyard Greenhouse Maple syrup Mushroom
3. ACREAGE IN ORGANIC PRODUCTION Land used for the production of certified organic crops was reported as 123,328 acres (49,911 ha) in 2010 which is a 6.7 % increase from the previous year. However the 2009 acreage data included an approximation for one CB rather than actual numbers so the total may have been underestimated. Table 3: Acreage under organic management Eastern Central Metro Western Northern Total ON ac 31,641 11,470 48 76,761 3,408 123,328 Certified ha 12805 4642 19 31,065 1379 49,911 ac 735 425 0 4,235 337 5,732 Transitional ha 297 172 0 1714 136 2,320 ac 5,066 1,080 70 4,975 441 11,632 Wild land in program * ha 2050 437 28 2013 178 4707 * Wild land includes maple forest and areas where there is wild crafting or harvest of wild berries. It can also include wild land (woodlots, ponds & wetlands) on certified farms.
3.1 Grains and Oilseeds Soybeans and Spelt are the two most important cash crops accounting for thirty percent of the total crop acreage. Corn is also an important crop although the relative proportion as a cash crop for human consumption compared with the acreage for livestock feed is not known.
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Table 4: Organic Grains and Oilseeds – Acres 2010 Crop Soybeans Spelt Corn Wheat Mixed grain Oats Barley Rye Buckwheat Peas Oats/peas Sunflowers Hemp Millet Tobacco Barley/peas Flax Lentils Beans Triticale Canola Kamut Total
Eastern 5073.35 1175.24 1826.26 1183.90 914.24 1042.48 933.18 361.00 1282.73 191.00 132.94 42.00 114.00
29.00
5.00 10.00 14316.32
Central 2054.29 1219.89 295.00 407.00 844.00 335.48 252.83 151.00
Metro 30.00
36.94
Western 19280.81 7335.66 6886.47 5184.00 5226.96 1739.68 1401.12 1540.27 113.00 1087.97 389.57 223.80
Northern 403.50 470.00 198.00 398.50 19.00 80.00 58.00 120.00
230.09 188.00 175.23 81.30 110.00 101.45 79.95 61.42
3.00
5599.43
30.00
51436.75
1.00 0.49
1748.49
Total 26438.45 10134.29 9007.73 7244.90 7183.20 3516.14 2606.13 2052.27 1475.73 1315.91 580.51 265.80 234.00 230.09 188.00 175.23 114.30 110.00 101.94 79.95 66.42 10.00 73130.99
Table 5: Organic Grains and Oilseeds – Hectares 2010 Crop Soybeans Spelt Corn Wheat/Durum Mixed grain Oats Barley Rye Buckwheat Peas Oats/peas Sunflowers Hemp Millet Tobacco Barley/peas Flax Lentils Beans Triticale Canola Kamut Total
Eastern 2053.11 475.60 739.06 479.11 369.98 421.88 377.64 146.09 519.10 77.29 53.80 17.00 46.13
11.74
2.02 4.05 5793.61
Central 831.34 493.67 119.38 164.71 341.55 135.76 102.32 61.11
Metro 12.14
14.95
Western 7802.67 2968.64 2786.86 2097.89 2115.28 704.02 567.01 623.33 45.73 440.29 157.65 90.57
Northern 163.29 190.20 80.13 161.27 7.69 32.37 23.47 48.56
93.1 76.08 70.91 32.90 44.52 41.06 32.35 24.86
1.21
2266.01
12.14
20908.82
0.40 0.20
707.59
Total 10699.26 4101.20 3645.30 2931.91 2906.94 1422.93 1054.66 830.52 597.21 532.53 234.92 107.57 94.70 93.1 76.08 70.91 46.26 44.52 41.25 32.35 26.88 4.05 29688.17
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3.2 Vegetables, Herbs and Mushrooms Very little is known about the acreage of different vegetable crops. Data were reported in two general categories: “vegetables” usually indicating larger or field scale production and “Fruit and vegetables” which is often used to describe smaller diverse operations and market gardens, however there is likely to be some overlap. Data provided for some individual crops are minimums; there would be additional acreage of all these crops in the general categories. The greenhouse category includes the large scale greenhouse production of tomatoes and cucumbers. A total of 2677.51 acres (1083.55 ha) in vegetable, herb and mushroom production was reported for 2010 with the majority (73%) in western Ontario. In addition there is acreage in eastern Ontario and Western Ontario (2.5 acres identified) devoted to vegetable seed production rather than crop sales. Table 6:
Organic Vegetable Production- Acres 2010
Crop Vegetables Fruit & vegetables Potatoes Herbs Garlic Greenhouse Asparagus Squash Mushrooms Sweet potato Onions Total by region Percentage
Eastern 102.27 108.5 6.5 7 0.3 0.49 0.3
Central 228.27 148.09 104 2 0.5 3.9
Metro
0.07
Western 914.07 795.071 90.28 86 33.97 17.9 8.75 7.0
Northern 0.49 0.5
4.5 3.46 225.36 8.4%
3.33 494.61 18.5%
0.07
1956.47 73%
.99
Total ON 1245.10 1051.66 201.28 95 34.77 22.36 9.05 7.0 4.5 3.46 3.33 2677.51
Table 7: Organic Vegetable Production- Hectares 2010 Crop Vegetables Fruit & vegetables Potatoes Herbs Garlic Greenhouse Asparagus Squash Mushrooms Sweet potato Onions Total by region Percentage
Eastern 41.39 43.91 2.63 2.83 0.12 0.2 0.12
Central 92.38 59.93 0.81 0.2 1.6
Metro
0.03
Western 369.41 321.75 36.54 34.80 13.75 7.23 3.54 2.83
Northern .20 .20
1.82 1.40 91.2 8.4%
1.35 200.16 18.5%
0.03
791.76 73%
.40
Total ON 503.61 425.59 81.46 38.45 14.07 9.05 3.66 2.83 1.82 1.40 1.35 1083.55
3.3 Fruit and Nuts Western Ontario is the most important regions for organic fruit production and it is likely that much of 708 acres of tree fruit reported is in fact apples. The Small fruit category includes strawberries, raspberries and currants.
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Table 8: Organic Fruit and Nut Production –Acres 2010 Type Tree fruits Apples Pears Small fruit Strawberries Currants Wild blueberries Wine grapes Fruit Filberts/Walnuts Hops Nursery Total by region
Eastern 9
Central 98.24
13
7 0.24
3 2
1.5 525.94
5
10
0.5 32.5
642.92
Western 708 67 2 27 5.23 0.5 14 1 1 15 840.73
Total ON 815.24 67 2 47 5.47 0.5 4.5 541.94 1 15 1 15.5 1516.15
Table 9: Organic Fruit and Nut Production –Hectares 2010 Type Tree fruits Apples Pears Small fruit Strawberries Currants Wild blueberries Wine grapes Fruit Filberts/Walnuts Hops Nursery Total by region
Eastern 3.64
Central 39.76
5.26
2.83 0.10
1.21 0.81
0.61 212.84
2.02
4.05
0.20 13.15
260.18
Western 286.52 27.11 0.81 10.93 2.12 0.20 5.67 0.40 0.40 6.07 340.23
Total ON 329.92 27.11 0.81 19.02 2.21 0.20 1.82 219.32 0.40 6.07 0.40 6.27 613.56
3.4 Forages, Green manure, other When reviewing these tables it should be noted that much of land used for cash crops will also be in a cover or green manure crop for part of the year. That acreage is not represented in the data for green manures in the table below. Table 10: Organic forages and other land use - acres 2010 Type Hay/pasture Pasture Hay Clover Sorghum Sudan grass Green manures/plow down Fallow Switchgrass
Eastern 13365.48 474.03 1341 23
Central 3049 3.5 27
814.06 46.36 15.9
343
Metro 18
Western 16040.12 1792 2555 214.26 114.4 20 2359 14
Northern 1026 138 12
Total ON 33498.6 2407.53 3935 237.26 114.4 20 3516.06 60.36 15.9
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Maple Willow Wild crafting Total by region
275
22
32 16386.83
3444.5
18
303 12 22 23445.78
174
1350
774 12 54 44645.11
Table 11: Organic forages and other land use – hectares 2010 Type Hay/pasture Pasture Hay Clover Sorghum Sudan grass Green manures/plow down Fallow Switchgrass Maple Willow Wild crafting Total by region
4.
Central 1233.89 1.42 10.93
Eastern 5408.82 191.83 542.68 9.31
138.81
8.90
329.44 18.76 6.43 111.29
1393.94
12.95 6631.51
Metro 7.28
7.28
Northern 415.21 55.85 4.86
Western 6491.21 725.20 1033.97 86.71 46.30 8.09 954.65 5.67
70.42
122.62 4.86 8.90 9488.17
546.33
Total ON 13556.40 974.29 1592.44 96.02 46.30 8.09 1422.90 24.43 6.43 313.23 4.86 21.85 18067.24
LIVESTOCK
Numbers in Table 12 include certified livestock in all stages of production unless specifically stated otherwise. For example dairy cattle include the milking herd and replacement heifers; beef cattle include breeding stock and slaughter animals. The numbers of sheep were reported differently for different operations – sometimes just the number of ewes, in others the number of lambs sold, therefore the total shown in the table is less than the total number of all age groups. In the case of “pigs”, these likely include sows, boars, market hogs and piglets. Table 12: Numbers of animals, bee hives and poultry – 2010 LIVESTOCK TYPE Beef Cattle Dairy Cattle Dairy Goats Sheep Sows Pigs Bee hives POULTRY TYPE Layers Meatbirds/Broilers Turkeys Ducks
Eastern
Central
793 1991
347 474
286
267
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Western
Northern
2074 4365 250 798 355 14746
245 126
85 38,635 217,733 152 14
584 110,673 130
127,500 52,106 1368 8
Ontario total 3459 6956 250 1351 355 14757 85 166,719 380,512 1650 22
One CB reported the square footage of the poultry barns rather than the number of birds. As a result the number of laying hens is an estimate based on a combination of
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actual numbers and a number based of the maximum density allowed by the standard of 6 birds/sq metre and knowing that some space will be allocated to pullet production. This may be a false assumption. In addition to the numbers reported above there will also be pullets raised organically as replacement flocks.
4.1 Organic Milk Production Table 13: Organic Milk Production in Ontario 2000-2010 Source: Dairy Farmers of Ontario
hl 255,768 243,415 198,000 144,000 116,000 103,000 98,938 96,000 95,372 45,000
Organic Milk Production in Ontario 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0
hl
20 00 / 2 0 01 01 / 20 0 2 02 2 0 /03 03 / 20 0 4 04 / 20 0 5 05 2 0 /06 06 / 2 0 07 07 / 20 0 8 08 2 0 /09 09 /1 0
Year 2009/10 2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 2005/06 2004/05 2003/04 2002/03 2001/02 2000/01
ON Producers 78 75 67 51 44 42 43 43 41 37
Extrapolating from numbers of dairy cattle reported in table 13, approximately 63% of production in Western Ontario and 29 % in eastern Ontario. Additional information from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario indicates 26 producers in eastern Ontario. Eastern Ontario demand is only 58% of the available supply and surplus milk from eastern Ontario is shipped to satisfy the demand in the central part of the province. In early 2011 Ontario was marketing approximately 90% of the organic milk production, the remaining 10% being sold as conventional. Little growth in production is expected in the near future. Organic milk production in Ontario in 2009/10 dairy year was 29% of the Canadian total. (QC is 39%, BC 21%) http://www.dairyinfo.gc.ca/pdf/organic_profile_eng.pdf
5. Acknowledgements Thanks are extended to all the certification bodies and individuals who assisted by providing data and other information: Procert (Agatha Sebastian ); CSI (Jennifer Scott); Ecocert (Simon Jacques); OCIA ( Ruth Baumann); QAI (Kasey Moctezuma); CCOF (Jake Lewin); Quebec Vrai ( Julie Bergeron); Oregon Tilth; Danielle Chabossal (COG).
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