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Nate and Kerianne Severy, Severy Farm, LLC, Cornwall, VT
Nathaniel and Kerianne Severy, along with their young children Caleb and Rachel, are carrying on the family dairying legacy in Cornwall, Vermont. It hasn’t been a straightforward journey, as there have been twists and turns along the way, but the family has finally arrived at their destination. They’ve just moved into the Severy family farmhouse, and are working out the final details for purchasing the home and the main farmland from Nate’s parents in the coming months.(Severy Farm is the first farm tour at the 22nd NODPA Field Days, September 29 & 30, in Middlebury, VT-read more about Field Days here.)
Read More...posted to Featured Farms on Sun, Jul 31, 2022
VFW Post 7823, 530 Exchange St., Middlebury, VT 05753
For the first time in ten years, NODPA Field Days returns to Vermont. Have you made your travel plans yet? You don’t want to miss out on two farm tours, 7 different workshops especially pertinent to organic dairy farmers at this time of great change, a dynamic trade show, excellent food, and plenty of time to catch up with old friends and to make new ones. Even with COVID’s newest variant always in the background, we are planning a safe, healthy event and welcome you all.
Read More...posted to Field Days on Sun, Jul 31, 2022
By Liz Bawden, NODPA Board Co-President
Every year we plan on how we can make the most of our pastures and keep the cows more comfortable in these hotter and drier days we call the “summer slump”. I look over our list of actions for this year; no-till in seed on a few weak areas of the permanent pasture; apply manure to other pastures; extend the pasture for heifers; clip off the over-mature growth. And it’s still a season of excess: too hot, too many flies, and slow regrowth. It’s great weather for hay making; not so much for pasture growing. We are paying even more attention to our pastures these days since we began our transition to grassfed production back in the spring. My hat is off to those of you that have mastered this level of grazing on your farms!
Read More...posted to Industry News on Sun, Jul 31, 2022
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
Whether you believe what the House of Representative conservative Republican Study Committee has proclaimed in “Blow up the Farm Bill”, or that the farm bill is one of the main opportunities for stakeholders to engage on the federal policies that shape our food and agricultural system, or that it’s too slow and only for policy nerds, the negotiations for the 2023 Farm Bill in the U.S. Congress have begun. Passed every five years, the Farm Bill sets the stage for many farm support programs and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) which have been key elements in bills that include food aid, export promotion, agricultural research, rural economic development and crop insurance. The 2023 Farm Bill might be even more complicated if the House and/or the Senate switch from Democrat control to Republican, with different committee Chairs and members.
Read More...posted to Policy on Sun, Jul 31, 2022
How a dairy producer used Westfalia AS/RS to streamline processes in two locations.
Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD) is a producer of store-brand organic milk and butter for U.S. retailers, operating several farms and facilities across the nation. Based in Boulder, Colo., it oversees heifer farms and organic dairy farms in Colorado and Texas, as well as organic dairy processing plants in Platteville, Colo. and Columbia, Mo. It manages the entire product lifecycle — from its farms to its processing facility — with a dedication to organic standards and sustainable production at every stage. To meet these standards and ensure the highest quality product for their customers, Aurora needed an efficient solution to build an in-house cold-storage warehouse. And so, Aurora’s partnership with Westfalia began — in Platteville.
Read More...posted to Industry News on Sun, Jul 31, 2022
By Liz Bawden, NODPA Board Co-President
There was a discussion on the best course of action to take with a torn teat on a milking cow. A number of producers had suggestions for speeding the healing of the wound while still being able to milk out the quarter to avoid compounding the problem with mastitis. A vet suggested that if milk was coming out anywhere other that at the bottom, the teat should be stitched. Others suggested the use of Transpore surgical tape or KT tape to cover the wound. Homeopathic arnica was suggested as it will help to control the swelling. And a large bore inflation was suggested to accommodate the swollen teat while milking. Calendula salve was recommended.
Read More...posted to Recent O-Dairy Discussion on Sun, Jul 31, 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
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 >>
If you're a business, consider our high-value business membership.
If you're an interested consumer or educator, look into our associate membership.
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