In Skaneateles, New York, farmer Jeremy Brown emphasizes the importance of sustainability on his farm, Twin Birch Dairy. Despite implementing environmentally friendly practices such as recycling manure and cooling milk with reusable water, Brown has no plans to pursue USDA organic certification. The certification process adds costs and limits the use of technologies that make dairy farming more affordable for both farmers and consumers. Many American farmers share this sentiment, leading to an 11% drop in certified organic acreage between 2019 and 2021. Factors contributing to this decline include high conversion costs, stricter inspection requirements following a 2018 fraud case, and the perception that organic farming is losing its appeal in the market. However, some farmers, like John Bolton, still find value in organic certification for its sales boost and environmental benefits. — new from AP News
