Siobhan Griffin ‘out standing’ in her field of dairy cows (2011)
NODPA started in February 2001 at a summit meeting of organic dairy producers in the Northeast after one processor arbitrarily lowered their farm gate price and farmers’ future pay price was threatened. These producers came together to discuss critical issues within the organic dairy industry including: maintaining a sustainable milk price; the National Organic Program; alternative milk markets; and building effective communication lines between fellow producers in the Northeast and beyond. NODPA is a grass roots organization of organic dairy producers with minimal bureaucracy and a transparent and open decision-making process open to all those interested in the future of organic dairy. NODPA has remained true to its original goal of advocating on behalf of producers, regardless of whom they sold their milk to, for a sustainable pay price plus to protect the integrity of the USDA Organic regulations. NODPA is a membership organization structured as a 501C5 trade group and is governed by organic dairy producers who meet regularly by conference call and annually in-person as either Board members or State Representatives. NODPA has a very active and committed Board and team of State Representatives that work together with NODPA staff to fulfill the mission of the organization.
In the January 2013 issue of the NODPA News we profiled the current Board members. Below are the State Representatives, all of whom donate their time to fulfill NODPA’s mission. Any organic dairy farmer who wishes to become a state representative or just be involved in conference calls and NODPA discussions should call NODPA president, Liz Baldwin – 315-324-6926.
Siobhan Griffin, NODPA Representative, New York
Siobhan owns and operates Rain Dance Organic Farm in Schnevus, NY and has been involved with NODPA since 2002 and she was the host farm for our 2011 NODPA Field Days. Her operation has been certified organic since 1997, and she milks 80 Holstein cows but is making changes to shift her herd to seasonal production. Her milk is sold to Organic Valley, and Siobhan produces a grass-fed semi-hard cheese (Sun Cheese) with a small percentage of her milk during the grazing season (raindanceorganicfarm.org)
Roman and Dwight Stoltzfoos, NODPA Representative, Pennsylvania
Roman, his wife Lucy, and their children, and now grandchildren operate SpringWood Organic Farm, in Kinzers, PA (Lancaster County). Their organic dairy operation is the largest supplier for SE PA Natural By Nature milk. They have a processing plant on the farm where some of the milk and eggs are made into gelato and yogurt; raise organic turkeys; and GMO-Free laying hens follow the grazing dairy herd in free-range style with moveable solar powered coops. Roman has been involved with NODPA since 2001; his farm hosted the first annual NODPA Field Days in 2001, and we returned to his farm in 2009 (www.springwoodfarm.com) for the 9th Annual NODPA Field Days.
Rodney Martin, NODPA Representative, Virginia
Rodney operated Bridge View Dairy in Oxford, PA for 13 years, farming 250 acres and milking 225 crossbred cows (Holstien, Normande, Jersey, Red Dane, Swedish Red) in an intensively grazed, grain-free system. He shipped his milk to Horizon and sold some milk and aged Cheese (among other things) from his farm store. Rodney moved to VA in 2009 onto a small grass farm where he has pastured hens and custom grazes dairy heifers. He currently supports the large dairy community in Virginia and West Virginia as a Representative for Lancaster Ag Products.
L-R Arden Landis, Steve Morrison, and Rob Moore at the 2012 NODPA Field Days
Arden Landis, NODPA Representative, Pennsylvania
Arden farms in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania and has been involved with NODPA since 2002. He has been certified organic since 1999 and milked 85 cows (retiring from milking cows in 2010). The breeds on his farm were Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss/Holstein crosses and numerous other crosses. Arden shipped his milk to Horizon Organic. Today Arden rears heifers, consults, and is an organic inspector.
John Stoltzfus, NODPA Representative, New York
John farms in Whitesville, New York and has been involved with NODPA since 2002. Their Be-A-Blessing Farm milks about 80 Holsteins and Holstein crossed with Normande. A few years ago,
John and Tammy were introduced to sprouted grains (Barley Fodder) as a way to provide high quality nutrition to their cows in place of purchased concentrates. They are excited about this new feeding system and share their knowledge by speaking at conferences, on-farm workshops and have self-published a booklet on what they have learned about the system, Their milk is sold to Organic Valley.
Bill Stine, NODPA Representative, New York
Bill farms 450 acres in Redwood, NY. He has a 32-cow dairy farm, milking Holstein cows. His farm has been certified organic since 2005 and he has been involved with NODPA since 2007. Bill ships his milk to Horizon Organic.
Cindy-Lou Amey, NODPA Representative, New Hampshire
Cindy-Lou farms with her husband, John, in Pittsburg, NH. They have been certified organic since 2006 and ship their milk to Organic Valley. They milk about 50 Holstein, Holstein/Jersey and Holstein/Shorthorn crosses, and have a small side business selling timber, beef and lamb. Cindy has an off-farm job as a teacher, but manages to help a lot with afternoon chores and organizes lots of activities for school farm tours in the spring. They have been NODPA members since 2005.
Bonnie and Tom Boutin at the 2012 NODPA Field Days
Bonnie and Tom Boutin, NODPA Representative, Vermont
Bonnie and Tom both come from farming backgrounds; they were raised on dairy farms and knew that this is the life that they wanted for themselves and their children. They milk around 60-75 Holstein, Jerseys and some crosses and farm over 275 acres of owned and rented land. They have been certified organic since 2007, and hope to develop an organic beef market to complement their dairy enterprise. They came to NODPA’s 2012 Field Days, and agreed to take a leadership role as a VT Representative for NODPA. They ship their milk to Organic Valley.
Rob Moore, NODPA Representative, New York
Rob farms in Nichols, NY with his wife Pam. Their 8th generation “no grain” seasonal dairy has been certified organic since 1996, and was co-host of the 2005 NODPA Field Days. Their “involvement” with NODPA dates back to participation in the 2001 Organic Dairy Summit meeting in Vermont, the gathering from which NODPA came to be. Rob and Pam have attended most of the annual NODPA Field Days events, including the first at Roman Stoltzfoos’ farm, where Rob spoke about no-grain dairying. They currently ship milk from about 50 mostly NZ Friesen/Jersey/Normande cross cows to Organic Valley.
George (Jeep) Madison, NODPA Representative, Vermont
Jeep and his wife JoAnn farm in Shoreham, Vermont. They milk 50-60 Holstein cows and manage over 400 owned and rented acres for pasture and hay. Their farm has been certified organic since 2007, and they have been involved with NODPA for many years. Jeep ships his milk to Horizon Organic.
Brian Wilson, NODPA Representative, Vermont
Brian operates Morningside Farm with his wife Patti and their children in Shoreham, Vermont, farming 600 acres and milking 60-70 Jerseys, Linebacks, and Milking Shorthorns. They have been certified organic since 2002 and have been involved with NODPA for many years. They ship their milk to Organic Valley.
Aaron Bell, NODPA Representative, Maine
Aaron’s farm is located in Washington County, along the edge of Maine’s easternmost coast. The members of the 8th generation produce organic foods: vegetables, fruit and berries, meat, eggs, and dairy on the 1600 acre farm. Aaron Bell and Carly DelSignore are the husband/wife team that own and operate Tide Mill Organic Farm, the arm of the farm that grows and markets certified organic foods, specializing in produce, meat and milk. Their children are Hailey 8, Paige 6, and Henry 3. Aaron is a founding member of Moo-Milk. (www.tidemillorganicfarm.com). |N|
Posted: to Industry News on Mon, May 20, 2013
Updated: Tue, Oct 16, 2018
