By Tamara Scully, NODPA News contributing writer
Goodell Family Farm, in Mantua, Ohio, is primarily an organic dairy farm, with an overall cow herd of approximately 80 head, with 53 cows currently being milked. Come mid-fall, when the current dry cows freshen, they’ll milk approximately 85 head, with no dry cows. This seventh generation family farm was founded 200 years ago as a diverse family homestead, raising crops and livestock - including at least a cow or two - and maintaining a sugarbush. Through the generations, it gradually became focused on two products: milk and maple syrup.
Read More...posted to Featured Farms on Fri, Sep 05, 2025
The Next 25 Years of Organic Dairy in the Northeast-What will it Look Like?
On the 25th anniversary of the very first NODPA Field Days, we are looking forward to the next 25 years, with an education program that’s relevant to all production systems and that looks to the future growth in organic dairy. In addition to excellent workshops, 2 farm tours, a host of expert presenters, we will celebrate the 25th anniversary with a Pig Roast and Chicken Barbeque on Thursday evening.
Read More...posted to Field Days on Fri, Sep 05, 2025
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
The weather dominates the discussions amongst producers in the Northeast. After a very wet spring, the summer has been extremely dry and very warm. Since the beginning of August, drought developed and intensified in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. National Integrated Drought Information System and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports confirm what we can all see, that streams are running much below normal and groundwater levels are lowest in coastal areas of Maine and western New York. In typical weather forecasting, they write that: “Over the next three months, above-normal temperatures are favored with equal chances for above-, below-, and near-normal precipitation. Drought conditions are expected to improve or be removed this fall.”
Read More...posted to Industry News on Fri, Sep 05, 2025
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director and Lia Sieler, WODPA Executive Director
In 2024, the Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (WODPA) and NODPA worked together to publish and distribute a producer’s survey in response to frustrations communicated to us within the industry regarding changes in inspections, the amount of information required and dramatic increases in the cost. The goal of this survey was to collect information and feedback regarding the newly implemented Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Rule and the Origin of Livestock (OOL) Rule and present it to the National Organic Program. Organic Dairy farmers have seen many changes in their inspections. More specifically, they reported increase in length and specific data requested at their annual inspection, changing formats for how certifiers want information presented/ available and astronomical increasing in cost for certification.
Read More...posted to Industry News on Fri, Sep 05, 2025
By Dayna Locitzer, DVM
Pasture season is the time of year we all look forward to in the organic farming community, but it is not without challenges. One challenge important to consider is parasites cows face when on pasture. A parasite is an organism that relies on another organism (the host) for its resources at the host’s expense. The parasite can drain the resources of its host, putting the host at severe risk. On pasture there are external parasites, like flies and ticks, and internal parasites, namely strongyles. This article is going to address internal parasites, specifically strongyles. It will discuss the risk factors, how to diagnose, and how to treat.
Read More...posted to Organic Production on Fri, Sep 05, 2025
By Alayna Gerhardt-Crile, PhD, agricultural consultant focused on pasture systems and livestock technology
The use of technology in animal production systems has significantly improved to meet the ever-growing consumer demands for sustainable and humanely raised animal products. Since its initial introduction in livestock trials in 1989, precision livestock technology, like virtual fencing (VF), provides notable benefits to livestock systems. (Umstatter, 2011; Campbell et al., 2020).
Read More...posted to Organic Production on Fri, Sep 05, 2025
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market Information Branch published estimated national organic fluid milk product sales for May and June 2025, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Order. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic fluid milk represents 65% of the total production of organic milk. There is no independent production data that supports that claim. A report by RaboResearch states that from 2010 to 2024 organic fluid milk sales grew by 67.7% and their share of total fluid milk sales more than doubled, from 3.3% in 2010 to 7.1% in 2024.
Read More...posted to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices on Fri, Sep 05, 2025
By Roman Stoltzfoos
Fall is approaching and so are the NODPA Field Days at the Pompey Rod and Gun Club, 2035 Swift Road, Pompey, NY 13138, on September 25 & 26, 2025. Are you planning on going? Now is the time to make plans to learn and get on other people’s farms. And hear news and opinions about trends in the markets. This is so important to keeping a learning edge. September 25 and 26th are important days on the calendar. And, if you get your name in before the 12th you’ll get a discount. We have the field days kicking off with a farm tour to TRE-G Farms, see the brochure or this NODPA News for more details. What does Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance do? Good question. NODPA is in place to give a unified voice to organic milk producers in the northeast; hence their ability to give you good information. They do not sell anything except knowledge about the markets and Info like the Field Days. We all need more of that. Ed Maltby does an excellent job evaluating and reporting on markets, trends and sometimes bad government policy. Nora Owens is a priceless addition to the organizational part of the program and NODPA News.
Read More...posted to Industry News on Fri, Sep 05, 2025
| Name | Date and Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Celebrating Rural Living with MOFGA, The Common Ground Count | Friday, September 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM | MOFGA, Unity, Maine |
| Celebrating Rural Living with MOFGA, The Common Ground Count | Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 12:00 AM | MOFGA, Unity, Maine |
| Celebrating Rural Living with MOFGA, The Common Ground Count | Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM | MOFGA, Unity, Maine |
| 25th Annual NODPA Field Days | Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Pompey Rod and Gun Club, Pompey, NY 2035 Swift Road, Pompey, NY 13138 |
| 25th Annual NODPA Field Days | Friday, September 26, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Pompey Rod and Gun Club, Pompey, NY 2035 Swift Road, Pompey, NY 13138 |
| Antitrust & Food::Voices of the organic movement | Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM | Saving Real Organic Churchtown Dairy in Hudson, NY |
| 2025 Grass-Fed Dairy Pasture Walks: Kauffman Farm: Fall Feed Inventory & Forage Quality | Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM | Joseph Kauffman’s Farm, 210 Herman Road, Sprakers, NY |
| The Organic Farming Conference | Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Mt. Hope Event Center, Mt. Hope, Ohio |
| The Organic Farming Conference | Friday, November 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM | Mt. Hope Event Center, Mt. Hope, Ohio |
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:
