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Organic farmers look ahead at Wisconsin conference

Posted at 9:58 AM, Mar 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-02 11:13:49-05

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Farmers from across the country recently gathered in Wisconsin to envision the future of the organic farming industry.

Wisconsin Public Radio reports that industry leaders attended discussions about organic farming production, economics, climate change and diversity at the MOSES Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse last month.

Industry leaders expect Wisconsin to continue to be a leader in organic farming. Pew Research Center data show Wisconsin has the second-highest number of organic farms in the country, trailing California.

Darin Von Ruden leads the Wisconsin Farmers Union. He says Vernon County is one of the largest organic producing counties in the country and home to Organic Valley, a cooperative that rakes in about $1 billion a year.

Von Ruden says he’s seeing many communities try to be more thoughtful about production practices.