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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

HaR-Go Farms, Pavilion NY, owned and operated by Stephen and Jill Gould and family

HaR-Go Farms, Pavilion NY, owned and operated by Stephen and Jill Gould and family

By Ris Pareti, NODPA Contributing Writer

In 1956, Harold and Rose Gould had a dream: build and run their own dairy farm. Three generations later, Stephen Gould - their grandson - is keeping that dream alive. Stephen Gould runs HaR-Go Farm, an organic dairy in Pavilion, NY, with his wife, Jill Gould. “Being able to work together is special,” he shares in earnest.

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posted to Featured Farms on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

Idaho Organic Dairies Receive Statewide Temporary Variance from Pasture Requirement; Aurora Dairy's Colorado Operations Receive More Generous Variance

By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director and Kathie Arnold, NODPA Policy Committee Chair

Producers need temporary variances. Farming is all about dealing with the unexpected, even more so with dramatic weather fluctuations in regions that have not experienced such a range of weather extremes. What starts as a drought year may change as the year progresses and equally the opposite.

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posted to Industry News on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

Temporary Variance Guidance & Form

Temporary Variance Guidance & Form

Guidance and worksheet for organic producers requesting a temporary variance from the USDA National Organic Program

Temporary Variance Guidance and Form: Guidance and worksheet for organic producers requesting a temporary variance from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). This factsheet was produced by Organics Farmers Association, Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, NODPA working with the USDA National Organic Program. Occasionally, circumstances beyond an operation's control, such as drought or flooding, or on-farm research, may temporarily make compliance with certain organic requirements impossible.

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posted to Industry News on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

The 2026 Farm Bill: Risks but No Rewards The 2026 Farm Bill, Agricultural Act of 2026, and its provisions to establish Risk Based Certification is not what Organic Producers need or want

By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director

The organic community has been grappling with what is the best, most transparent and inclusive process to make changes to modernize program oversight and verification that will support a highly credible but more affordable, competitive and inclusive organic market for producers and consumers. Is it better to make changes, legislatively, through the Farm Bill or by working with the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and the National Organic Program (NOP)? There are no shortcuts as both approaches take time, regulatory change and are subject to outside pressure. The organic community’s decision to make organic certification a federal regulatory process in 1990 means that any change will be slow and affected by the national politics of Congress and the administration.

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posted to Industry News on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

USDA Announces Five New Members to the National Organic Standards Board, the adoption of a new NOSB Charter and details of the Fall meeting.

On Friday, 8/7/2026, the newly adopted NOSB Charter was posted on the USDA website at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/NOSBCharter.pdf . The previous charter ended a few months ago and the NOSB cannot function without a current Charter which runs for 2 years. Although the NOSB was explicitly written into law by the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), it is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and all FACA committees must have a current Charter.

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posted to Industry News on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

New World Screwworm (NWS) Dairy Farm Training Flyer

By Lia Seeler, Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance

Why It Matters: New World Screwworm (NWS) is a serious pest that can infect livestock, pets, wildlife, and occasionally people. The larvae feed on living tissue, causing severe wounds, animal suffering, production losses, and potentially death if left untreated.

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posted to Organic Production on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

Organic Dairy News: September, 2026

Organic Dairy News: September, 2026

By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director

It’s official! The Northeast has had ‘limited rainfall in the past week, leading to degradations in drought’ (US Drought Monitor). This is a big difference from last year, with significant rain in many areas for improved grazing and forage production to take us into Fall. Not so good news is the price of diesel and the increasing costs of parts and equipment. Pay Price is holding steady, though some buyers are shifting to paying more for protein.

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posted to Industry News on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

Pay and Feed Prices, September 2026

By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director

Total estimated sales of organic packaged fluid milk for May 2026 show a decrease of 1.00% over May 2025 sales, as conventional fluid milk sales in the same month also show a decrease of 2.2% over May 2025. June 2026 is better, with organic estimated sales at 3.4% higher than June 2025, and a 3.3% increase in conventional sales over June 2025.The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market Information Branch published estimated national organic fluid milk product sales for May and June 2026, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO).

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posted to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

I Can’t Unsee Them

I Can’t Unsee Them

By Siobhan M. Griffin

You have all seen the textbook drawing that depicts the succession of plants in temperate environments like ours – first lichen and moss colonize new ground and then annual forbs (weeds) appear. Soon newly established perennial grasses get invaded by shrubs and then dwarf trees. Eventually the ecosystem self organizes to closed canopy forest. That is what is supposed to happen, right? Think again.

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posted to Organic Production on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

Solar panels and pastures: Can dairy farms grow forage under agrivoltaics?

Solar panels and pastures: Can dairy farms grow forage under agrivoltaics?

By Brad Heins and Sabrina Florentino, University of Minnesota

Solar energy is becoming more common across rural landscapes, but many dairy farmers have an important question: What happens to the land underneath the panels? For pasture-based dairy farms, the answer could be agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics combines agricultural production and solar photovoltaic energy generation on the same acres. Instead of removing land from farming, the land can continue to produce forage while also producing renewable energy.

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posted to Organic Production on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

26th Annual NODPA Field Days Hope for the Future: Strategies for Success, Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport, PA 19533

26th Annual NODPA Field Days Hope for the Future: Strategies for Success, Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport, PA 19533

By Nora Owens, NODPA Field Days Coordinator

The 26th Annual NODPA Field Days is right around the corner and registration is open. The Early Bird special rate is available until Saturday, September 12th and you can register online or call/email to let us know you are coming in order to secure the best rates. You can pay in person but we need to know if you are coming. Also, we have a hotel block at the Holiday Inn Express, Wyomissing, PA that has an excellent rate until Friday, September 11, 2026. To learn more about the NODPA Field Days schedule, speakers, 2 farm tours, and to register and/or make hotel reservations, visit the webpage for more information and to register.. If you have questions or want to register by phone, call Nora Owens at 413-772-0444 or email noraowens@cast.net.

posted to Field Days on Sun, Sep 06, 2026

NODPA Classified Ads

Upcoming Events

Name Date and Time Location
Advanced Grazing Workshop 2026-09-15 08:30 Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM Churchtown Dairy, 357 County Route 12, Hudson NY 12534
Northeast Growing Together Conference 2026-09-16 09:00 Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 9:00 AM Rodale Institute, 611 Siegfriedale Road, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Organic Dairy Pasture Walk 2026-09-22 09:30 Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 9:30 AM Emary Springs Farm, 11274 County Road 36, Freedom, NY
Future-Ready Dairy Farm Tour: Staying Innovative in a Changing Dairy Landscape at Rockbottom Farm 2026-09-22 12:00 Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM Rockbottom Farm, 53 Rockbottom Rd, Strafford, VT 05072
Soil, Pasture, and Dairy Cow Health Pasture Walk 2026-09-23 10:00 Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM Triple Creek Farm, 890 Fairfield Road, Candor, NY
26th Annual NODPA Field Days 2026-09-24 08:30 Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 8:30 AM Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Rd., Leesport, PA 19533
26th Annual NODPA Field Days 2026-09-25 08:30 Friday, September 25, 2026 at 8:30 AM Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Rd., Leesport, PA 19533
The Organic Farming Conference 2026-11-12 Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 12:00 AM Mt. Hope Event Center, Mt. Hope, Ohio
The Organic Farming Conference 2026-11-13 Friday, November 13, 2026 at 12:00 AM Mt. Hope Event Center, Mt. Hope, Ohio

Organic Milk Buyers

Below we have a list of contacts for milk buyers who responded to our request to have their information made public or suggested contacts for those that didn’t respond:

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USDA Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
p: (608) 422-8593

Organic Dairy Market News biweekly

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