German organic farmers increase revenues by 12 percent in 2012

In 2012, German organic farmers increased their sales revenues by 12 percent (to 1.53 billion euros). High prices for cereals, fruit, and vegetables and higher prices for livestock, especially for laying hens and other poultry, are the main reason for this positive development.

Organic animal husbandry in Germany 2012: Sheep and goat meat: 3250 tons, 8.1 percent of all sheep and goat meat; Eggs: 891 million eggs, 7.3 percent of all eggs; Beef: 39200 tons, 7.3 percent of all beef; Milk: 67'939 tons, 2.3 percent of all milk; poultry meat 13'390 tons, 0.8 percent of all poultry meat; pork 24'200 tons, 0.4 percent of all pork. Source: AMI 2013

These are the new results of the annual survey among the control bodies conducted by the Agricultural Market Information Company (AMI). The survey is financed by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) within the Federal Scheme for Organic Farming and Other Forms of Sustainable Agriculture (BÖLN).

Compared with 2011, each German organic farm increased its sales revenue per hectare by 135 euros with up to 1’483 euros.

Animal production on the rise

As regards livestock production, the number of laying hens increased by 17 percent and is now at 3.3 million hens. This means that seven percent of all German egg production comes from organic farms. Organic poultry meat production grew by 16 percent, especially due to the rising number of turkeys. However, growth of milk production has slowed down and increased by only 2 percent.0 Production of beef, mutton and pork has remained stable; there was some decrease in beef production and a small increase for pork.

Wheat and rye are the main arable crops

In the third consecutive year, the cereal area decreased slightly and is now at 202’000 hectares. Wheat and rye remain the far most important arable crops in organic farming. Rye achieved above-average yields and qualities, so sales revenues also have risen. The spelt area of as decreased by 14 percent due to low prices in the previous years.

Vegetables and vineyards have reached high shares of their respective total areas; 9 percent of all vineyards and 8 percent of all vegetable areas are organic. The vineyards grew by 7 percent (now 7’400 hectares). Organic vegetables were grown on 10’470 hectares with a production of 287‘700 metric tons.

Source: Agricultural Market Information Company (AMI), Bonn, Germany

More information

For detailed data (in German) see: Strukturdaten und Verkaufserlöse 2012 at
http://www.ami-informiert.de/fileadmin/redaktion/bio_daten/strukturdaten/Strukturdaten_und_Verkaufserloese_2012_Excel-Datei.xls