Organic-crops survey is open

Researchers are surveying farmers across the mid-South through Dec. 31 to gauge their interest in organic crop production.

The survey is being conducted jointly by Winrock International and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It is the first step toward a larger project, according to a news release.

The survey may be found at https://bit.ly/35zHKXe, and it will be live until end of business day Dec. 31.

The researchers are seeking responses from active producers of row, fruit, vegetable and field crops — including hay and forage — as well as livestock owners in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

“We want to hear from a range of size of operations and types of producers,” said Michael Popp, an economist and professor with the Agriculture Division.

“The information collected may lead to a publication on producer sentiment toward and the extent of adoption of organic crop production. We think the information would be useful to researchers, agricultural policy makers and agribusiness sector professionals,” Popp said.

Joseph Schafer is the new business and program development manager for Winrock International.

“The survey is being conducted to help design a threeyear agricultural research project focusing on organic production issues in the midSouth,” Schafer said. “The information is being collected ahead of a grant proposal to be submitted in 2021 that would fund the project.”

To learn about extension and research programs in Arkansas, visit https://division. uaex.edu/