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By Tamara Scully, NODPA Contributing Writer
Tim and Mary Elliott established Eltimar Farm, in Marathon, New York, in 1987. The farm today consists of 230 owned acres, and an additional 120 rented acres. There are 50 acres of pasture for the milking herd, and another 40 acres for the heifers. While the pastures are occasionally cut for hay, the approximately 200 tillable acres are used to make the majority of the feed - baleage and some dry hay - which the Holsteins consume when not grazing pasture.
Read More...posted to Featured Farms on Mon, May 30, 2022
By Jen Miller, NOFA-VT Farmer Services Director
Organic dairy farms in Vermont vary widely in their characteristics and systems but two things that they all have in common is that they need to know their full cost of production (COP) and that COP needs to be below their pay price in order to have a viable business. This is the reason that year after year (for the last 15 years) first UVM Extension and now NOFA-VT collect and analyze cost of production data from 25 to 30 Vermont organic dairy farmers. What follows are the results from NOFA-VT’s 2019 and 2020 data collection and analysis efforts.
Read More...posted to Economics of Organic Dairy Production on Mon, May 30, 2022
For the past 22 years, NODPA has moved the Field Days to different regions and states each year in order to reach as many organic dairy farm families as possible, especially when traveling long distance isn’t possible. So this year, we are excited to return to Vermont for the first time in ten years. In 2012, the NODPA Field Days was in the southeast corner of Vermont, in Brattleboro. This year, we will be at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7823, 530 Exchange Street, in Middlebury, located midway between Rutland and Burlington, and just east of the southern tip of Lake Champlain. The natural beauty of Vermont will be on full display since it will be close to the peak of the fall foliage season.
Read More...posted to Field Days on Mon, May 30, 2022
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
The Origin of Livestock Final Rule has been published and we do not see any legal challenge to its conditions. It’s an indication of how badly served producers are within the NOP over the last 20 years that it has taken this long for the Rule to be published. In 2022, The NOP is stronger than when it failed to enforce the Pasture Rule in 2010; has more resources and is under good leadership, and is now in a great position to enforce the OOL Rule as soon as implementation is allowed. We are thankful that one of the biggest loopholes in the regulation (allowing transition animals to remain organically certified if moved or sold) has been closed. We wanted more, including immediate implementation and the one-time exemption tied to the responsible party, rather than an operation, but federal regulation is all about compromise.
Read More...posted to Industry News on Mon, May 30, 2022
PETALUMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Straus Family Creamery Founder and CEO Albert Straus’ goal of a carbon-neutral dairy farming model on his farm by 2023 is one step closer. California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) authorized commercial use of Blue Ocean Barns’ red seaweed supplement as a feed additive for dairy cows. The decision followed a highly successful trial at Straus Organic Dairy Farm in West Marin, the largest and longest yet conducted with seaweed and dairy cows, proving to dramatically reduce their enteric methane emissions (cow burps) by an average of 52 percent and as much as 90 percent.
Read More...posted to Organic Production on Mon, May 30, 2022
Compiled by Ed Maltby from reports by National Organic Coalition and Organic Trade Association
On April 26, 2022, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) started its three-day biannual public meeting via live webinar. NOSB considered 7 proposals, 4 discussion documents, and over 30 sunset materials. The meeting welcomed four new NOSB members Elizabeth Graznak (resource conservationist), Allison Johnson (public interest), Dr. Dilip Nandwani (scientist), and Javier Zamora (producer).
Read More...posted to Industry News on Mon, May 30, 2022
Kirk Arnold, NODPA Co-President
How fast things can change! Two weeks ago on our farm, it was so wet we had to pick and choose parts of the same field to spread manure on, looking for places to not get stuck. Today as the corn goes in the ground, I'm watching what seems like half the field blow away as dust. This year is looking much like the start of last year for us with how dry it is starting out, only to end with one of the wettest years in recent memory. I'm hoping we see some moisture soon or it will be a very short grazing season, but we don't want last year's constant summer and fall excessive rains.
Read More...posted to Industry News on Mon, May 30, 2022
NODPA is the largest grass roots 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.
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 >>
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