China is the second largest producer of maize. Consumer demand for organically produced goods has shown double-digit growth for well over a decade, providing market incentives for U.S. farmers across a broad range of products. Agronomic crops provide the food, feed grain, oil, and fiber for domestic consumption and are a major component of U.S. export trade. Price premiums received for organic crops were generally above the estimated additional economic costs of organic production for most crops during 2011-14. Organic farmers use crop rotation, the old practice of growing different types of crops over different seasons to enhance soil fertility and prevent erosion. The importance of soil building and the need for a systems approach to organic produc-tion are sometimes overlooked or underestimated. The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), enacted under Title 21 of the 1990 Farm Bill, served to establish uniform national standards for the production and handling of foods labeled as “organic.” Economic analysis reveals organic farming profitable long-term Date: September 1, 2011 Source: American Society of Agronomy Summary: In an analysis of 18 years of crop … In corn and wheat production systems, yields increased as soil organic carbon increased, but those benefits diminished after the organic carbon content exceeded 3.45% organic matter. Learn more about organic … Maize is the most abundant crop grown in the United States. Organic farming supports biodiversity by choosing appropriate species and varieties of plants and animals. regulations that govern organic crop production, livestock production, handling, processing, and labeling. Importance of Crop Production Field and forage ( agronomic ) crops are grown on most of the 200 million acres of harvested cropland in the United States. This study clearly shows the importance of organic amendments, especially compost, in organic vegetable production. Organic farming can be explained as an agricultural method wherein the following techniques are used: Crop Rotation: A technique to grow various kinds of crops in the same area, according to different seasons, in a sequential manner Green Manure: Refers to the dying plants that are uprooted and stuffed into the soil in order to make them act as a nutrient for the soil to increase its quality Perhaps even more important, once the farming system has been certified, price premiums for organic crops, added to the reduced production costs, help boost profitability. Additionally, organic crop producers use cover crops to protect the soil from wind and water erosion. Applications of compost enhanced crop … Soil-conserving practices include the use of cover crops, mulches, conservation tillage, contour plowing, and strip cropping. (See Table 2). For many organic farmers, equivalent yields are not necessarily the goal. America produces 32 percent of the world's maize crop, making it the global leader in maize production. The global demand for maize imports continues to increase. Organic farming, agricultural system that uses ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers derived largely from animal wastes and nitrogen-fixing cover crops. Seeds and Planting Stock: Organic crop producers use organic seeds and planting stocks to protect the integrity of The ecological benefits of organic farming are counterbalanced by higher food costs and generally lower yields. “High yields are not always connected to profitability,” said Wende Elliott. The main reason that organic returns were higher than conventional returns was the price premiums paid for organic crops. A recent review of yield and soil organic matter indicated that soil organic matter content can influence crop yield, but only to a point.