Risks perceived by organic grain farmers in the central USA

To understand risk issues of U.S. organic grain farmers, six listening sessions were conducted in parts of the major grain producing regions in spring 2004. The views expressed at these sessions suggested the importance and uniqueness of risks in organic grain farming. Regional differences were observed, but many problems were common, including the limited availability of market information, shortfall of crop insurance policies, and revenue losses from on-farm storage, emergent marketing channels, and potential contamination. Our findings clearly imply a role for public and private institutions to collect and offer information on the organic markets and to educate the sectors supporting organic producers.