Structural changes in organic farming in Norway, and farmers' reasons for opting out.

From 2002 to 2007, the number of organic farms in Norway has increased slightly, from 2303 to 2611. The area of organically certified and in conversion farmland has increased much more, from 32,499 to 49,563 ha. Hence, the average size of organic farms has increased considerably, from 19.7 to 25.5 ha agricultural area per farm. This is 20 % above the Norwegian average farm size. As parallel production is permitted, many farms have both organic and conventional production. The average organically managed agricultural area has increased from 11 to 15.4 ha per farm, and the number of milking cows on organic dairy farms from 15 to 20. Many small farms have opted out of certified organic agriculture, whereas farmers with more land are converting to organic. While most of the public financial support in Norwegian agriculture is differentiated in relation to farm size and region, support for organic agriculture is little differentiated. This encourages the conversion of larger operations. However, the diversity of the organic sector is reduced when smaller farms do not convert or opt out, and it should be considered how organic farming can be an interesting option for farmers independent of farm size.