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NODPA’s Mission:

To enable organic dairy family farmers, situated across an extensive area, to have informed discussion about matters critical to the well being of the organic dairy industry as a whole.

NODPA NEWS & NOTES

Payprice Summary Chart:
2006 to 2013

Download a copy of our summary chart comparing payprice for Organic Valley and Horizon over time.

Feed and Pay Price Updates

Added May 19, 2014. With retail fluid sales increasing by approximately 7% per year, an increased demand for no-grain milk, and a supply shortage, which has some supermarkets posting lack of availability signs in stores, we are seeing a distinct difference in how the two national brands of organic milk are responding to the increased demand for milk. CROPP Cooperative is tentatively offering a small $1/cwt increase and WhiteWave Horizon Organic is extending their MAPP for Northeast farmers until December 31, 2014, but offering no increase. CROPP is responding to increased demand for “Grass milk” by upping their premium in the face of competition from other companies’ higher pay price and increased marketing of “100% grass-fed” organic milk ...

For more details on feed and pay price go to:

feed_payprice_update_
05162014.shtml

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Check Out All The Businesses Supporting NODPA's Work

Over 20 businesses have signed up for our business membership directory, helping support our newsletter, web site, advocacy work, and more. Check them out.

Recent Classifieds

Added in May & June 2014

Want to submit your own farmer classified? Click here >

Farm Link

Experienced farm family (husband wife and two sons) seeking opportunity to work with retiring farmer and his wife.  (Added June 18, 2014.) We would like to work towards possible ownership of the farm and cattle and machinery.  My son has started his own herd of 10 organic jersey Holstein crosses and 28 head of pure bred Boer meat goats. He is currently expanding his cow numbers with certified organic heifers we bought from a local farmer but we need to move to an organic dairy so we have room to grow more heifers. Our goal is to bring in our knowledge and our muscle. The heifers when freshening will help pay our way and not be such a financial burden to you. We are open to any suggestions and will work towards a common goal.  Our goal right now is to have an opportunity to get back in farming because we love working with animals and the land. There is no greater reward in life. We also have some well used and maintained machinery that we would bring with us. We have four tractors (one) being completely overhauled right now one recently overhauled at Broome Tioga BOCES in Binghamton New York by my son. I am very proud of him because it’s like new again!!  We can discuss the rest later.  

Our family has grown up on farms and been around the farming industry all our lives.  This year the smell and sight of spring field work has driven us to make the move to pursue our family dream again.  We all love farming and are very willing to openly work with the farmer to help him be successful as this will make us successful.  We currently reside in Newark Valley, New York, which is just west of Binghamton.  We would like to stay in the north east but we are willing to go elsewhere if the appropriate opportunity was too good to resist. Please don’t hesitate to call at any time with any question you may have about us.     

You can contact us at:  

Frank 607-321-5062  
Tom 607-321-5694   
Minelle 607-321-3684 

Land

45 or 55 acres +/- with house, barn, indoor & outdoor arenas ready for your horse operation or could easily be converted back to dairy. Additional land may be available by sublease. Beautiful fields have been fertilized regularly with wood ash & manure (Organic certifiable). Perimeter pasture fence (high tensile), pasture watering system and more. House has been updated without losing it’s charm. All buildings have been well maintained & updated periodically. Fantastic views of Willoughby Gap. Also consider selling all 134 acres, call to discuss. For more info visit our website: www.nealperryfarm.com, click “Farm For Sale” tab. Rebekah Perry, Narrow Gate Farm, 509 Dutton Brook Lane, Brownington, VT 05860, 802-754-2396 Added May 19, 2014.

Animals

Black jersey heifer fresh today for sale sired by genex 1ho8632 holman.  Bull calf by alta young jersey sire 11je938  bw tempo. Calf looks like holstein. Holly is very gentle and used to tie stall and grazing. Easy birth. She caught on first service. NYSCHAP herd neg to Johnes and Staph.  Located in central ny near cortland. Can deliver for fee.  $ 1250
Added June 24, 2014.
Contact: Jim Ball
cell # 607.793.1912
home # 315.497.3740

For sale: Two certified organic bred heifers, AI sired.  One due in July the other due in August.  Asking $2000 each. Added June 9, 2014.
Contact: Tracey Lamoureux
Email: tracey_48@ymail.com
Phone: (802) 895-4202
Location: West Charleston VT

For Sale: 8 cows from no-grain dairy. Due in June. Friesan crosses, Jersey crosses, Normande crosses.  New Zealand genetics. Certified organic for dairy & beef.  $1,800 each. Rob Moore, Nichols NY  607-699-7968  cowpoke2@verizon.net Added June 9, 2014.

I have a hostein x Norwegian red bull for sale. 1 1/2 years old, good temperment. Nice for
heifers. 1200$. Lyons, NY 315-879-7779. Hurry because he's going for beef. Added June 9, 2014.

Wanted, 30 milking organic cows, prefer Jerseys, call 802-253-8222, or email kaiserfarmvt@gmail.com. Added June 9, 2014.

Certified Organic Dairy Heifer Calves for Sale. New Zealand genetics. Friesans and Jersey crosses from long-time 100% Grassfed/Organic herd. South Central NY on PA border. Rob Moore, Nichols NY cowpoke2@verizon.net 607/699/7968. Added May 26, 2014.

We are interested in purchasing 2 certified organic cows/heifers ASAP Preferably Holstein. 978 835 7423 or 978 957 0031 warren@shawfarm.com Added May 26, 2014.
Contact: Warren at Shaw Farm
Email: Warren@shawfarm.com
Phone: 978 835 7423
Location: Dracut, Ma

Organic heifer calf for sale. Born 5/18/14. Jersey/Holstein and 1/16 Ayrshire. Asking $100. Pedigree include Jumpshot (Genex Jersey). Added May 26, 2014.
Contact: Greg Beaudoin
Email: gregbeaudoinsfarm@gmail.com
Location: Jeffersonville, VT

75 Close-up or freshening certified organic Jersey Linebacks and a few milking Shorthorns. Selling as a group only; price starts at $2,000 per animal. Please contact Brian Wilson, 802-377-1786. (Addison County, VT) Added May 19, 2014.

Four certified organic Holsteins: Three dry due in May, one fresh May 1st. These are good cows (4-quartered, low cell count); I just have too many spring cows. Dry cows are AI bred to Holstein. $7000 for group. Also, five 8-10 month old Holstein heifers AI sired, nice shape and ready for pasture. $2500 for group. Contact Eric @ 607-267-9338, Maryland, N.Y. Added May 19, 2014.

We are selling about a dozen DRY dairy cows. Most are Jerseys and Jersey crosses with a couple of tall Holsteins. Please note that several of these cows were bred late and due dates range from mid-July through October. All of these cows are bred (either by service bull or Genex) and have been confirmed pregnant by either a vet check or DHIA’s “IDEXX” milk pregnancy test. Age ranges are 3-5 years old and all are certified organic. Prefer to sell them as a group, and/or asking $1250 each. Email ron@bedrockfarmvt.com for more info. We are based in Georgia, VT if someone wants to come up and take a look at them. Added May 19, 2014.

I have two holstein grade id baggin heifers for sale in central New York. Vet checked by Dr. Doug Evans. Heifer # 148 = xena sired by taurus pamtom sunbuck ex 97 (blackstar x t.t.lulu) service sire calving ease 7h88222 townsend proven select sire (durham x titanic) due 6.26. Heifer # 161 = peek-a-boo sired by 7HO9632 humphrey (s.s. young sire = outside x durham) service sire calving ease abs proven 29HO13460 dodge (shottle x zenith) due 6.8. Both heifers are over 1550 lbs, are used to tie stall and rotational grazing. They would work well in freestall because they are aggressive eaters.
nyschap herd. Sold milk cows this spring. Am taking better pics this afternoon. Can send upon request. Can deliver for nominal fee. $ 2200 each. Contact Jim @ 607.793.1912 Added May 19, 2014.

Forage, Bedding & Grains

Wanted: I am are looking for certified organic large square bale dry hay preferable located in MA,Eastern NY,Eastern PA, VT, NH, Conn.  I am needing both dairy quality as well as dry cow quality hay.  I can arrange trucking if you don't haul.  Please e-mail or phone if you have anything available. Thanks. Added June 24, 2014.
Name: Michael Barnes
Email: michael@thegreybarnandfarm.com
Phone: 317-531-3405
Location: Chilmark. MA.

This is Wesley Price, Co-owner of Nantucket Mushrooms LLC in South Chatham, Mass. We're trying to source wheat straw - organic wheat straw or conventional wheat straw - first cut of this year. My number is 774-212- 5383 . Please call if you have any for sale or know where I can source some. Added June 9, 2014.

4x5 (1200+ pound) bales certified organic mixed grasses. Baled June 1 ,2014. Call for prices. 40 available at the moment. Added June 9, 2014.
Contact: Joey Blackston
Email: Shadevalleyfarms@windstream.net
Phone: 740-416-3728
Location: Chester, OH

ORGANIC GRASS/CLOVER MIX HAY.  To be cut 1st week of June 2014.  Healthy, very good mix, Excellent stand. Square bales approx. 40-50 lbs. ea. Up to 550 bales available. (semi-load). We have semi available and can ship anywhere in the U.S., or can be picked up at the farm.  Buyer pays shipping. Price is $5.25 / bale. Added May 26, 2014.
Contact: Ross Hunter
Email: idlehourfarms@wildblue.net
Phone: 270-601-0770
Location: Princeton, KY

50 bales of Balage left. Weight between 1150 and 1300 pounds. Baleage at 16% protein, 72 NEL. Willing to negotiate on the price if it’s all taken. Contact Travis Forgues, Cell: 608-632-3105, travis.forgues@organicvelley.coop (located in Alburgh, Vermont) Added May 19, 2014.

Employment:

Organic Valley is seeking a Dairy Pool Manager for PA & MD region to support current dairy pool members and to procure new members. Practical dairy knowledge and good communication skills required.  Organic production knowledge helpful. For additional information, visit www.OV.coop/jobs or call 608-625-3314. Added May 26, 2014.

Equipment

Raw milk cooler available. Set up for beverage cans or bottles as well as produce & gallon milk jugs on bottom.  New Tecumseh compressor w/ fresh charge of 404 refrigerant. Doors open outward. Came from school district and never outside. $825. Can deliver and install for a fee. Added June 18, 2014.

Jim Ball
cell # 607.793.1912
home # 315.497.3740

Events

For additional information on the events below, click here.

July 1 ,2014
Controlling Flies to Keep Your Organic Cows Happy and Healthy
Twin Oaks Dairy LLC, Truxton, NY

July 1, 2014
Value Added Grains Variety Trials
Cornell Freeville Organic Research Farm, Freeville, NY

July 4-5, 2014
Horse Progress Days, Mt Hope, Ohio

July 21, 2014
Organic Dairy High Quality Forage Production
Stine Farm, Redwood, NY

July 17-19, 2014
Grasstravaganza: Pasture Soil Health Creates Wealth
Morrisville State College, Morrisville, NY

July 18-20, 2014
Seed Savers Exchange Annual Conference
Heritage Farm, Decorah, Iowa

July 24-25, 2014
Maine Grain Alliance’s 2014 Kneading Conference
Skowhegan, Maine

July 30, 2014
K-Line Pasture Irrigation, Horning Farm, Penn Yan, NY

July 30-August 1, 2014
Grassfed Rising 2014: Polishing the Soil-Grass-Consumer Connection
Columbia, Missouri

August 8-10, 2014
NOFA Summer Conference, UMass, Amherst, MA

August 14, 2014
Practical Soil Management for New Lands and New Farmers
The Farm at Locusts, Staatsburg, NY

August 27, 2014
Fodder Production Workshop, B-A-Blessing Farm, Whitesville, NY

September 25-26, 2014
14th Annual NODPA Field Days, Stonewall Farm, Keene, NH

Feature Farm - Dharma Lea Farm

Dharma Lea Farm is located in Sharon Springs, NY and owned by Paul and Phyllis Van Amburgh. The farm consists of 730 acres of which 233 are owned and 500 are rented. The 233 acre home farm is used primarily for pasture and some hay and the remaining 500 acres is rented land used for hay production. They are the first of a growing number of dairy farms to start shipping milk to Maple Hill Creamery, a 100% grass-fed organic dairy production company that is in its 5th year of production. Maple Hill Creamery uses only whole, unhomogenized milk, and markets European-style yogurt and drinkable yogurt. They also raise grass fed beef, sell hay, sell surplus dairy stock, and offer their services as consultants and speakers. With training in Holistic Management, Paul and Phyllis have recently been selected by the Allan Savory Institute to be one of the first ‘Self-Sustaining Savory Hubs’ in the world, empowering people to use properly managed livestock to heal the land. For more on how they transition to full time farming and their production practices please go to:

ff_may_2014.shtml

Added June 10, 2014

The USDA Organic Check-Off

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is continuing its self-styled ‘discussion’ of establishing a federally mandated, USDA administered, Organic Check-off. In looking at different definitions of discussion they generally follow this idea ‘the action or process of talking about something, typically in order to reach a decision or to exchange ideas.’

The one-sided propaganda campaign now being waged by OTA, which includes a mass mailing of brochures and robo-calls to individual producers, is not a discussion at all. It presents one side of a campaign to establish a USDA Organic Check-off program without asking the basic question of whether we want or need a federal government program to promote the organic label and assist with funding of organic research. This initiative was decided solely by the OTA Board, advised by Washington DC based lobbyists. With the authorization of the Farm Bill, OTA now has the choice of following the USDA process of establishing an organic check-off program under the administrative guidance of USDA AMS. While there are several times within that process when those that will be assessed have an opportunity to voice their opinions, it will be a protracted procedure that will last over 2-3 years and will require a well-financed and politically connected opposition in the face of OTA’s existing campaign. If the process for advancing an application for a check-off program continues under its present management by a trade organization using emotive language and a well-financed promotion program, it will divide the organic community. This will be counter-productive at a time when the community needs to be united in the face of many marketplace and USDA threats to undermine both the integrity and uniqueness of organic certification.

With this Farm Bill, organic producers and small businesses have the opportunity to opt out completely from paying into any organic check-off program which meant that farmers and ranchers can decide for themselves what to do with their money. If OTA is successful in establishing a USDA organic check-off organic program producers will lose that opportunity to opt out and be forced to pay into either a conventional or organic check-off program, something they may have voted against. There are many half-truths and sound bites now being used by OTA to describe the benefits of a USDA Organic Check-off program that are misleading at best.

There was never a community wide discussion of whether we needed an organic check-off or could be better served with other ways to promote organic production and research. Now is the time for a pause in the propaganda and hard sell and the launch of a community wide discussion of how to promote organic production and sales. We all want to promote organic and provide more money for organic on-farm research. When you get your robo call just reply that you are not in favor of any check-off and ask that they make a note of that on their call record.

When asked about what to do with check-off monies your reply could be ‘give the producers back their money and trust them to use it in ways that will benefit organic.’ Farmers and ranchers have always led organic research with their on-farm production practices and their lifestyles are the greatest promotion of the benefits of organic.

Unfortunately the process of establishing a USDA Organic Check-off will be all about numbers and getting out the vote against a heavily financed campaign (sound familiar to our deadlocked federal system of democracy?). NODPA has established an online petition to start to accumulate the numbers to oppose a move to establish a USDA Organic Check-off. Please consider signing on to the petition if you have not done so already:

https://nofa.wufoo.com/forms/online-petition-organic-checkoff-program/  

For more information on the USDA Organic Check-Off please go to: http://www.nodpa.com/checkoff_opposition.shtml

Organic Dairy Production
with the End in Mind

Arden J. Nelson, DVM, and Diplomate, ABVP-Dairy has been a dairy cattle veterinary nutrition consultant for over 34 years, and, not surprisingly, believes that “Nutrition is Everything to Dairy Cows”. Nutrition is one of the largest expense on the farm as are veterinary costs and Arden rightly believes that by managing the one (nutrition) organic dairy farmers will control diseases, prevent premature culling and promote a healthy immune systems. Well balanced nutrition will directly impact the dairy producers’ bottom line and not unexpectedly affect the composition of the milk that consumers drink. For more on how what we eat now will affect the future genes of our grandchildren and find out what ‘Epigenetics’ is please go to:

production_health_human_health_06-06-14.shtml
 
Crossbreeding with Norwegian Reds

The advantages of crossbreeding have long been evident and many organic producers have developed their own preferences for cross bred animals that will suit their system.  The aim of any breeding program is to improve production, health and fertility traits that benefit the goals of the individual family farm. While there are many choices out there the Norwegian Reds are one that may be most suited to organic production being moderate in size with calves that are hardy and fast growing and clearly adapted to grazing systems. The Norwegian Reds draw on the genetics of the Ayrshire breed, one of my favorites from many years milking then in England and Wales (United Kingdom). For more on the breed and their characteristics please go to:

production_genetics_norwegian-red_060614.shtml

NODPA Field Days Update
2014 NODPA Field Days, Stonewall Farm, Keene, NH
September 25 & 26, 2014
Organic Dairy: Getting Down to Business

The 14th Annual NODPA Field Days return to New Hampshire on September 25th and 26th this year, and promise to be filled with unique experiences and brimming with new and useful information that is essential for running a successful organic dairy business. We will be at Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH and since we are at an educational, working dairy farm, Veterinarians Hubert Karremann and Cindy Lankenau will be offering a hands-on workshop on Alternative Cow Care—Chiropractic, Acupressure, Acupuncture and more, using the farm’s cows. They will also answer your questions during our very popular Odairy Live: Ask the Vets Q & A session.

And other workshop topics include: selling more than milk from your farm, without changing production practices or making large scale capital investments; and trends and opportunities for grass based dairies in the wholesale organic milk market. Our speaker list, so far, includes Peter Miller, Organic Valley, Joe Miller, Trickling Springs Creamery, Kyle Thygesen, Stonyfield Farm, Josh Cline, Stonewall Farm, , Kathy Ruhf, Land for Good, Margaret Christie, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, Max Winter, Brattleboro Food Cooperative, Liz Bawden, NODPA President and heifer hay and bedding hay producer, Black River Produce representative (invited), and a variety of organic dairy producers who will share their unique perspectives and experiences. Click here to view the whole program, and learn about trade show and sponsorship opportunities. See you in September!

Added May 19, 2014

Pay Price, Feed and Retail Price update

We learned this week that MOO Milk in Maine has ceased production because of the lack of processing infrastructure to match the growing market needs (http://moomilkco.com/ ). For at least the next three months, their 12 members will sell their milk to Stonyfield yogurt which started to source its own milk in the last couple of months. Stonyfield’s first and only producer was using the MOO Milk transport to ship their milk and Stonyfield was buying the rest of the load from MOO Milk. MOO Milk has stated that all vendors will be paid and almost a year ago they were able to refund the founding members capital investment with a $3 million anonymous donation through Slow Money. Fortunately this thoughtful and obviously well planned decision to stop packaging milk comes as Stonyfield started their own sourcing program in New England so it appears that no producers will lose money. The demise of yet another independent processor highlights the complexity of the supply chain for those producers that want to work together to coordinate the direct marketing of their product, especially for organically certified product that has to be kept separate from non-organic during transport, processing and delivery.

With retail fluid sales increasing by approximately 7% per year, an increased demand for no-grain milk, and a supply shortage, which has some supermarkets posting lack of availability signs in stores, we are seeing a distinct difference in how the two national brands of organic milk are responding to the increased demand for milk. CROPP Cooperative is tentatively offering a small $1/cwt increase and WhiteWave Horizon Organic is extending their MAPP for Northeast farmers until December 31, 2014, but offering no increase. CROPP is responding to increased demand for “Grass milk” by upping their premium in the face of competition from other companies’ higher pay price and increased marketing of “100% grass-fed” organic milk. The Northeast market has become increasingly competitive for milk due to a late ‘spring flush’ and producers who have cut back production in the face of high feed inputs and stagnant pay price, with one processor reporting that they are down 40 tanker loads from last year, and no milk going into the conventional market. Non-organic producers in the northeast are seeing an increase in per cwt pay price over a five year average of approximately $4 per cwt and a return on equity of 4.3% (Northeast Dairy Farm Summary 2013, Farm Credit East) whereas organic dairy farm families are looking at increased input costs with no increase in pay price. For more details and charts please go to:

feed_payprice_update_05162014.shtml

A Pasture is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Spring has finally come to the Northeast and as the soil warms up, we have an explosion of pasture. How do we use it most productively and efficiently to maximize growth over the whole grazing seasons? In his article, Hue Karreman goes back over the basics on managing the size of paddocks and measuring growth so that it meets the needs of you livestock. To read his very practical advice on managing pasture and utilizing what you have on your own farm, please go to:

production_forage_karreman_
pasture_05162014.shtml

GMO Labeling Law passes in VT

In a landmark bill a GMO labeling bill was passed recently in Vermont with no trigger that requires other neighboring states to have similar bill in place. The bill requires labeling as of July 1, 2016, on many food products (not milk and meat though) that contain genetically modified ingredients, which often includes corn, soy, and canola. Food manufacturers say some 70-80 percent of packaged food on a typical supermarket's store shelves would need to be labeled. The bill grants the Attorney General's Office the job of establishing rules surrounding the labels. While many folks have been involved in this fight, NODPA’s first director and now Newsletter and Web editor, Lisa McCrory, has been working on this issue since 1999. Congratulation to Lisa and her husband Carl for their great work and dedication to the cause of knowing what is in our food. You can see the video of Lisa and Carl’s speech (as Rural Vermont board members and representative farmers) at the celebration of the GMO labeling law at http://vtdigger.org/featuredvideo/gov-peter-shumlin-signs-gmo-labeling-bill/ 

NODPA News Editor Lisa McCrory and her husband Carl Russell at the GMO labelling law celebration

5 Ways You Can Support NODPA
Ten years ago NODPA was formed in response to a threat of a drop in milk price. In 2014 NODPA is the only organization whose mission is to represent the interest of organic dairy producers no matter who they sell their milk to.

Click here for a summary of the many ways you can support NODPA and the farmers it represents.

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