Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance

Danone Drops 89 Organic Dairies and exits New England and Upstate New York (Updated 9/15/21)

By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director

The many rumors since Danone’s purchase of White Wave, that they would be withdrawing from the procurement of organic milk in the Northeast, has happened. To many, this was no surprise. The bigger question is why they have taken this action now and with so many farms. Having heavily invested in new processing for plant, nut and cereal juices (‘milks’), they have invested nothing in the infrastructure for organic milk. Why drop eighty nine farm families at once? Where are the standards that a B corporation is supposed to hold themselves to? (Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. Serving a global community of people using businesses as a force for good. Honest. Communal. Responsible. Purpose-Driven. Sustainable. Ethical.) As a self-declared leader in regenerative agriculture why does Danone take these farms out of production?

posted to Industry News on Tue, Sep 14, 2021

21st Annual NODPA Field Days September 30 & October 1, 2021

NODPA Field Days Summary Coming Soon

The 21st Annual NODPA Field Days were held along the beautiful coast of Maine, just down the road from the center of Freeport, Maine. at Wolfe's Neck Center. Maine's Governor, Janet Mills, and Commissioner of Agriculture, Amanda Beal, spoke to the NODPA Field Days audience. Senator Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree were unable to leave Washington DC to attend due to their legislative schedule, but sent video messages that can be viewed here.

posted to Field Days on Tue, Sep 14, 2021

FEATURED FARM: Grass-fed Growth: Finding what Works. Saddlers Run Farm, Allensville, PA

Owned and operated by Alvin and Marianne Peachy and family. By Tamara Scully, NODPA Contributing Writer

For Alvin Peachy, his wife Marianne, and their four children - who range in age from eight to a mere five months - life on their Saddlers Run Farm, in Allensville, Pennsylvania, revolves around the twice per day milking of the 75 cow milking herd, and the management of the 150 acres of owned pasture which keeps the 100 percent grass-fed dairy herd healthy and happy.

posted to Featured Farms on Tue, Sep 14, 2021

Act Now!

Sign your name in support of NE Organic Dairy Farms!

posted to Industry News on Tue, Sep 14, 2021

Can Seaweed Cut Methane Emissions on Dairy Farms?

By Diane Nelson--article reprinted with permission from UC Davis

Seaweed may be the super food dairy cattle need to reduce the amount of methane they burp into the atmosphere. Early results from research at the University of California, Davis, indicate that just a touch of the ocean algae in cattle feed could dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions from California’s 1.8 million dairy cows.

posted to Organic Production on Tue, Sep 14, 2021

Protect Biodiversity and Native Ecosystems in the Organic Rule

By Harriet Behar, Sweet Springs Farm and Jo Ann Baumgartner, Wild Farm Alliance

Our organic regulations mandate that soil and other natural resources are protected and enhanced over time. Yet one aspect of the USDA organic rule that works against environmental stewardship and promotion of biodiversity is the requirement that land cannot be certified for organic production until it has been free of prohibited substances for three years. While this rule makes sense on land that has been farmed conventionally, it is problematic because it incentivizes the destruction of native ecosystems.

posted to Industry News on Tue, Sep 14, 2021

Message from the NODPA Co-President

By Kirk Arnold, NODPA Co-President

After two years in the making, the NODPA Field Days at Wolfe's Neck are finally here! I remember the meeting when we were trying to figure out where the next field days would take place and the idea of Wolfe's Neck was proposed. My first thought was, we've waited this long to have this shindig on the coast, but it was an option all along! I mean, this way, even if we've all seen plenty of cows grazing before I'll bet not many of us have ever seen cows grazing with an ocean backdrop.

posted to Industry News on Tue, Sep 14, 2021