By: Lia Sieler, Executive Director, Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Chico, CA
It is nearly impossible to hear the word organic and not think of Albert Straus and the legacy he has created with his organic dairy farm in Tomales, California. Albert Straus was born and raised on his family farm, now home to 590 organic dairy cows, heifers and calves in the hills of Tomales, near the Pacific Ocean. These cows spend most of the year grazing, getting 135 – 140 days of 30% or more dry matter intake, but have a comfortable freestall barn to shelter them during inclement weather conditions.
Read More...posted to Featured Farms on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
While the news of the acquisition of Maple Hill Creamery by Horizon Family Brands, financed by Platinum Equity, may have been a surprise to many producers, the industry knew Maple Hill was on the market for some time. After its rapid growth in the last year and its position in the Grass-Fed market, it needed capital investment to take full advantage of its expanded market position in the face of rapidly growing consumer demand.
Read More...posted to Industry News on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
Wet spring, dry summer and a snowy, cold fall; nature is not being kind to the Northeast, and organic dairy in particular. In the last issue of NODPA News we highlighted the effect of the drought on pasture and forage production, with some producers losing up to 40% of their production, many culling some cows, selling young stock and using winter supplies of forage to supplement pasture. The availability of hay or baleage of a sufficient quality is now non-existent in the Northeast and Canada, with producers facing high costs for trucking on top of the cost of forage.
Read More...posted to Industry News on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
By Carlos Niño de Guzmán, Ph.D. Student, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gustavo Schuenemann, DVM, Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State U., and Albert De Vries, Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Every morning as the day starts, cows get ready to be milked in every organic farm across the country. For many producers, the goal is clear: healthy cows, high-quality milk, and sustainable dairy operations. Yet, one adversary remains at the forefront: mastitis. Being one of the most common and challenging problems in the dairy industry, it does not only impact welfare but also cuts into productivity and profitability.
Read More...posted to Industry News on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
The current initiative to standardize the Organic System Plan (OSP), an essential part of the certification process, in order to bring a more uniform approach to the role of the OSP in assessing compliance with the Organic regulations, was initiated with a call to action from Dr. Jenny Tucker, Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program (NOP) at the 2024 National Organic Standards Board Meeting (NOSB) where she challenged the community: “This is a chance for the industry to step up and lead the way-can we rise to meet it?”
Read More...posted to Industry News on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
By Kerry Schneider, DVM, Midstate Veterinary Services, Cortland, NY
Tis the season for calf pneumonia. And often trying to approach the problem, especially in the face of an outbreak, can be daunting. A practical way to troubleshoot the issue is to look at the age of the calves when they first experience symptoms. This provides an idea of potential breaks or holes in the protocols around that stage of life. When this does not reduce new cases or holes cannot be found, other options exist such as diagnostics and lung ultrasound.
Read More...posted to Organic Production on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market Information Branch published estimated national organic fluid milk product sales for September and October 2025, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Order. Total US sales of packaged organic fluid milk products were estimated at 251 million pounds in September 2025, with organic Whole Milk sales at 136 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 114 million pounds. In October 2025, total sales of organic packaged milk were 248 million pounds, with sales of organic packaged Whole Milk at 131 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 113 million pounds.
Read More...posted to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
Madison E. Bacon, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota , Marcia I. Endres and Bradley J. Heins, West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota
Disbudding, the removal of horn buds in young calves, is a routine practice in dairy farming aimed at improving animal management and safety. However, the procedure is known to cause significant pain and stress, raising welfare concerns, especially in organic dairy systems where pain control options are limited. This article summarizes a recent study that assessed the effectiveness of willow bark extract versus lidocaine and sham treatments in alleviating pain and stress in organic dairy calves following cautery disbudding.
Read More...posted to Organic Production on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
| Name | Date and Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Why Are We Losing Organic Farms? Understanding the Challenges and Charting a Path Forward | Friday, January 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM | Zoom meeting |
| 2026 Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference | Friday, March 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM | Lux Hotel & Conference Center, Waterloo, N.Y. |
| 2026 Northeast Dairy Innovation Summit: DYNAMIC DAIRY Opportunities at Every Scale | Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 8:00 AM | Crowne Plaza Albany--The Desmond Hotel, 660 Albany Shaker Rd., Albany, NY |
| 2026 Northeast Dairy Innovation Summit | Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM | Crowne Plaza Albany--The Desmond Hotel, 660 Albany Shaker Rd., Albany, NY |
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:
