Minnesota among leaders in organic farming

(AP) - Minnesota ranks high on a couple of measures of organic farming.

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service says Minnesota ranks fifth nationwide in the number of organic acres harvested in 2007. The service says 718 Minnesota farms used at least part of their land for organic production in 2007, the most recent year for which figures are available.

California was No. 1, followed by Montana, Texas, Wisconsin and New York.

Minnesota organic producers reported nearly $40 million in sales of organic crops, livestock, poultry and related products in 2007. That ranks Minnesota ninth in the country in dollar sales of organics.

Agency figures show that primary operators of Minnesota's organic farms tend to be slightly younger than average, at 51 compared with 55.

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