Overview

As demand for organic products increased, more land in the United States was converted to organic production. As of 2008, the United States had 2.2 million acres of cropland and 1.8 million acres of pasture and rangeland certified organic. In 2008, the United States had 11,202 organically certified sheep and lambs, up from 4,471 in 2005.

USDA standards for organic food were implemented in October 2002. Organic lamb is raised in a production system that promotes and enhances biodiversity and biological cycles. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs. Lambs intended for meat products must be raised organically from the last third of gestation and without the use of antibiotics and growth hormone stimulants. In general, organic foods are minimally processed with artificial ingredients or preservatives.  July 2011 ... Organic Lamb


Marketing

• Biofuels send organic meat prices soaring, Natural Foods Merchandiser, 2008.
• Fourth National Organic Farmers' Survey: Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace (Executive Summary), Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), 2004.
• Fourth National Organic Farmers' Survey: Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace (Full Report), OFRF, 2004 - OFRF's National Organic Farmers' Surveys have collected data about organic farmers and farming for the years 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2001.
• Marketing U.S. Organic Foods: Recent Trends From Farms to Consumers, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2009.
• Organic Farming and Marketing, ERS, USDA - This site provides a wealth of statistics related to organic products.
• Organic Production, ERS, USDA - This site contains organic data sets through 2005. It also has 2007 data on certified operations by state.
• The Organic Trade Association - This association works to promote organic products in the marketplace. Its membership includes growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmer associations, brokers, manufacturers, consultants, distributors and retailers.
• Organic Wool Fact Sheet, Organic Trade Association.
• Sheep, Briefing Room, ERS, USDA.

Processing/Manufacturing

• Accredited Certifying Agents, National Organic Program (NOP), USDA.
• Food Label Procedures, FSIS, USDA - This site includes procedures, policies, a listing of ingredients, packaging materials and other related links.

Production

• The National Organic Program - This site lists the national standards on organic agricultural production and handling, certification procedures and accreditation.
• Organic Livestock Feed Suppliers, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), NCAT - This is a listing of certified organic livestock feed suppliers. Contact information is provided for each company along with a brief description of rations and specialty items. Other helpful organic resources are listed at: http://attra.ncat.org/
• Organic Feedgrain Producers and Handlers, NOP, USDA.
• Organic Production, ERS, USDA.
• Producing Lamb Organically, Blackbelly Barbados Sheep Association International - This article discusses key management factors associated with organic production.
• Sustainable Sheep Production, ATTRA, NCAT - This site provides information on practices related to sustainable sheep production. Topics include breed selection, controlled grazing, pasture lambing, alternative health management and innovative marketing ideas.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Bootstrapping the Organic Market for New Zealand Lamb, The New Farm, 2007 - This organic farm developed its own label, Organic Essentials, to market meat at the regional level.
• Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative, Hettinger, North Dakota - This organization was started in 1999 to market lamb meat to the consumer. Soon after the company formed, they switched gears and went from marketing commodity lamb to natural lamb to differentiate themselves from other companies.
• Good Earth Farm, Celeste, Texas - This farm markets lambs raised organically. It also markets other products including feeder sheep, goats, puppies and eggs.
• Thirteen Mile Lamb & Wool Company, Belgrade, Montana - A family-run company that sells organic lamb, sheepskins and wool products from its Web site. For a case study of their operation, see Renewing the Countryside's article.
• Willow Hill Farm, Milton, Vermont - This farm sells certified organic sheep’s cheese and natural, grass-fed lamb from its East Friesians flock. It also merchandises farmstead blankets and lambskins.

Links checked July 2011.