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Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance

NODPA is the largest grassroots organization of organic dairy producers and has remained true to its original goal of advocating on behalf of producers, regardless of who they sell their milk to, for a sustainable pay price, plus protect the integrity of the USDA Organic Regulations.

Latest NODPA News

FEATURED FARM: Ayrshires: Not just for Show, Hardy Farm, Farmington, Maine: Owned and operated by the Hardy Family

FEATURED FARM: Ayrshires: Not just for Show, Hardy Farm, Farmington, Maine: Owned and operated by the Hardy Family

By Tamara Scully, NODPA News contributing writer

Hardy Farm has been proud of their registered Ayrshire dairy herd, established in the 1940s. While the Ayrshires rule the roost, the herd also has registered Holsteins. But the Ayrshire genetics are the farm’s “strong point,” Henry Hardy said, and “we are well known for the genetics now, and we sell quite a bit.” Just don’t tell that to the 18 current Holsteins, which are “about 20 too many,’ joked his wife, Teresa. The Holsteins were acquired “due to a 4-H project gone awry.”

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posted to Featured Farms on Sun, Jan 12, 2025

Cost of Production on Grass-fed Dairy Farms in the Northeast in 2023

Cost of Production on Grass-fed Dairy Farms in the Northeast in 2023

By Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler & Sarah Flack

Since 2018 our research team has been collecting and analyzing financial data from 100% grass-fed dairy producers in the northeast with the goal to better understand the cost of producing milk in this production system. With several years of data, we have been able to create a useful benchmark for northeast grass-fed dairy producers. This article will summarize the 2023 dataset and begin to explore management system and production practice impacts on cost of production and profitability.

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posted to Economics of Organic Dairy Production on Sun, Jan 12, 2025

Grass-fed Dairy Production Practices and Farmer Perceptions Results from a survey of grass-fed dairy producers in the US

Grass-fed Dairy Production Practices and Farmer Perceptions Results from a survey of grass-fed dairy producers in the US

By Heather Darby and Sara Zeigler, University of Vermont

Over the last decade, organic grass-fed dairy production has grown rapidly in the US. Since 2016, we estimate that the number of grass-fed organic dairy farmers in the US has expanded by over 400% and, for the first time since 2018, new markets for both organic and organic grass-fed milk are now open. In 2019, the first national survey of grass-fed dairy producers provided an initial overview of farm demographics, production practices, and research and technical assistance needs of this group of producers. While this and other research has produced valuable insights into this unique production system, with more farms looking to enter this market, more in-depth knowledge is required for all aspects of the production system (i.e., soil, forage, herd management, economics, milk quality, etc.).

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posted to Economics of Organic Dairy Production on Sun, Jan 12, 2025

To All Certified Producers, Dairies and Other Commodities. We need your opinion on your certifier’s inspection requirements. Please help!

To All Certified Producers, Dairies and Other Commodities. We need your opinion on your certifier’s inspection requirements. Please help!

We have been hearing from many certified producers that their certifier’s requirements have increased dramatically in 2024, along with the cost. The requirements, from certifier to certifier, have varied in format, content, and detail. We support Strengthening Organic Enforcement and Origin of Livestock but the implementation can be problematic, with increased burden for small to mid-size operations. WODPA and NODPA are collecting information regarding certification as well as OOL & SOE implementation. Please complete the form or follow the link as soon as possible to help us advocate with policy makers, stakeholders and the NOP. To complete the survey online, please click here.

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posted to Industry News on Sun, Jan 12, 2025

Ask the Vet: What precautions should I take with my calves when it is cold out?

Ask the Vet: What precautions should I take with my calves when it is cold out?

By Dayna Locitzer, DVM

Last issue we talked about the basics of calf care. I think this is a great follow-up question on the quest to take the best care of our calves, especially as we get into the coldest months of the year. In previous issues I have talked about the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) of cows related to heat stress (and how my personal zone is similar to cows). Adult cows have a TNZ of about 32-70 degrees and are quite cold tolerant. Pre-weaned calves have a TNZ of 50-77 degrees. Once the temperature is below 50 degrees, calves will need to expend extra energy to keep their vital functions working properly. It is important to keep this fact in mind in how you prepare for calf care in the winter months. Knowing that calves are less cold tolerant than cows, there are some basic additions to their care.

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posted to Organic Production on Sun, Jan 12, 2025

Pay and Feed Price, January 2025

Pay and Feed Price, January 2025

By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has published estimated national organic fluid product sales for September and October 2024, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Order. In September, the data shows a continued increase in the sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged fluid products of 15.5% over September 2023, and the October data shows sales at 10.1% over October 2023. There was a 2.9% increase in Organic Fat Reduced Milk in September 2024 over September 2023, but a 0.8% increase in October 2024 over October 2023. Year to date, October 2024, organic fluid milk sales are 6.8% higher than the same period in 2023.

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posted to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices on Sun, Jan 12, 2025

Organic Dairy News, January 2025

Organic Dairy News, January 2025

By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director

There is continued movement of producers to different buyers, mostly under Grass Fed organic certification but also those that do not have the add-on certification. Transparency on Pay Price and market conditions from the milk buyer serves the farmers and the organic dairy market far better than rumors spread from farmer to farmer or by the milk truck drivers. More shared information allows producers to make clear choices for their operation and future security. Buyers and producers: please share information with NODPA, a trusted source for independent information over the last 24 years, either by email or on Odairy.

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posted to Industry News on Sun, Jan 12, 2025

The Leatherstocking Cattle Exchange: The inaugural public auction dedicated to the nurturing and advancement of Grass-based dairy cow genetics, Canastota, NY, Friday, November 15, 2024

The Leatherstocking Cattle Exchange: The inaugural public auction dedicated to the nurturing and advancement of Grass-based dairy cow genetics, Canastota, NY, Friday, November 15, 2024

Robert Yoder, contributing writer

This article originally appeared in Small Farmer's Journal, Sister's Oregon, and is reprinted with the author’s permission. Due to space constraints, this article has been edited for length. Here, in Central New York, from the Finger Lakes to the west, to the Hudson on the east, the Catskills south, and the Adirondacks north, is the land known as Leather Stocking Country--named for the Leatherstocking Tales, five novels of his frontier hero, Natty Bumppo, written by James Fenimore Cooper.

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posted to Industry News on Sun, Jan 12, 2025

Upcoming Events

Name Date and Time Location
Dairy Welfare and Profitability Considerations: To keep or not to keep 2025-01-21 12:00 Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM WEBINAR SERIES
GrassWorks 33rd Annual Grazing Conference 2025-01-23 07:30 Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 7:30 AM Chula Vista Resort and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI
GrassWorks 33rd Annual Grazing Conference 2025-01-24 07:30 Friday, January 24, 2025 at 7:30 AM Chula Vista Resort and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI
GrassWorks 33rd Annual Grazing Conference 2025-01-25 07:30 Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM Chula Vista Resort and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Operations Managers Conference 2025-01-28 07:30 Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 7:30 AM Doubletree by Hilton, East Syracuse, NY
Dairy welfare and profitability considerations: To keep or not to keep 2025-01-28 12:00 Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM WEBINAR SERIES
Operations Managers Conference 2025-01-29 07:30 Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 7:30 AM Doubletree by Hilton, East Syracuse, NY
The NOFA/Mass Winter Conference: Rooted in Abundance 2025-02-01 09:00 Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 9:00 AM UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA
To keep or not to keep: Dairy welfare and profitability considerations 2025-02-04 12:00 Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM WEBINAR SERIES
To keep or not to keep: Dairy welfare and profitability considerations: 2025-02-11 12:00 Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM WEBINAR SERIES
Boldly Grow, the 2025 OEFFA Conference 2025-02-13 Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM Cherry Valley Hotel, Newark, Ohio
NOFA-VT Winter Conference: Growing Together 2025-02-15 08:30 Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
NOFA-VT Winter Conference: Growing Together 2025-02-16 08:30 Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM Diavis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
To keep or not to keep: Dairy welfare and profitability considerations 2025-02-18 12:00 Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM WEBINAR SERIES
To keep or not to keep: Dairy welfare and profitability considerations 2025-02-25 12:00 Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM WEBINAR SERIES
To keep or not to keep: Dairy welfare and profitability cons 2025-03-04 12:00 Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM WEBINAR SERIES

NODPA Needs You!

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NODPA depends on the memberships of farmers, consumers, and businesses for support of all its efforts — regionally and in Washington — on behalf of the organic dairy farmers. If you're an organic dairy farmer, consider one of the following: a milk check-off membership or an annual newsletter membership or choose your own level of annual dues to support NODPA. Learn more:

  • If you're a business, consider our high-value business membership.
  • If you're an interested consumer or educator, look into our associate membership.
  • You can make easy, secure online credit card payments.

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