WASHINGTON, D.C. — A report recently released by the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) shows organic agriculture on the rise, with more than 14,000 farms nationwide, 3.6 million acres and a growth of more than $2 billion since the agency’s 2008 study of the industry.

The 2014 Organic Survey was released in September and serves as only the third comprehensive study of the organic industry on a national level.

California leads the way in organic production with 2,805 total farms and 687,168 total acres farmed, but Midwest states Iowa and Ohio rank high with 612 and 541 total farms, respectively.

According to the study, organic milk is the most valuable organic product. Mac Stone, chair of the Organic Assoc. of Kentucky (OAK), estimates one-third of his state’s organic production lies in dairy.

"Organic milk prices are more than double those of conventional milk, and production costs are less," he explained.

Kentucky has 107 total farms with more than 7,000 acres. One of the farms counted in the NASS survey, which was distributed in January 2015, was Stone’s certified-organic 375-acre Elmwood Stock Farms. Elmwood Stock transitioned to organic almost two decades ago and now grows a broad spectrum of organic products from beef and poultry to vegetables and fruits, with comparable yields to those from conventional farms.

Stone is optimistic about the growth shown in the report. Through his work with the state’s organic association and with the National Organic Standards Board to bolster organic production, he has learned more producers simply means more consumers for organic products.

"The more of us, the better," he observed.

In fact, Stone and OAK are engaged in what he calls a "huge push" to encourage the state’s grain producers to transition to organic practices. "The knowledge and tools are available to have a nice crop," he said of organic grain.

In addition to milk, the report found eggs and boiler chickens are among the most valuable organic products, along with lettuce and apples. Vegetable and fruit crops make up a large portion of the total market share, with 42 percent of all organic sales.

Industry growth shown in the 2014 Organic Survey echoes data collected as part of the 2012 Census of Agriculture, also conducted by NASS. That survey found an 83 percent increase in total organic product sales by farms in the United States between 2007 and 2012.

According to the survey’s introduction: "The 2014 survey collected data from U.S. farms and ranches that were certified organic, exempt from organic certification or transitioning to organic certification." Participation in the survey was mandated under the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997.