The United States Department of Agriculture has announced more than $17 million is available for research and outreach to support the organic agriculture sector. Madison, South Dakota organic farmer Charlie Johnson says that will be helpful in boosting organic production, which has already seen good growth.

He says organic farmers have fared better than conventional grain producers with the latest economic downturn and seem to be weathering that storm quite well.

Johnson says consumers have been asking for organically produced food and that demand has been driving their success.

The organic industry is the fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture with sales growing $4.2 billion last year, to reach a record $43.3 billion.