Featured Farm: Jerry Dell Farm, NY

Jerry Dell Farm, certified by NOFA NY, milks 500 cows on two farms, and manages 2000 acres of pasture, hay and crop land in Dryden, NY with a recently acquired second farm in Freeville, NY – just 4 miles away. Owned and operated as a family farm by Vaughn and Sue Sherman, sons Jeremy & Ryan, and nephews Troy & Kenny. Jerry Dell Farm has been certified organic since 2000; they are currently shipping to Organic Valley, but will be switching to Upstate Niagara starting in May, 2012. To learn more about this organic family farm please go to http://www.nodpa.com/ff_january_2012.shtml.

ADDED FEBRUARY 1, 2012

There's Confusion On
The Supermarket Dairy Shelves

Store-brand organic milk is now a loss leader for retailers to draw customers into their stores. This reality benefits all organic manufacturers and consumers on the backs of organic dairy farm families. Our petition signed by over 1,000 folks on line and in-person (click here to download a pdf of the petition) shows that consumers are willing to pay more if the money goes to farmers. Recent increases in retail prices don't appear to have slowed sales. In the words of George Wright, NY farmer and NODPA Treasurer, "Processors and retailers need to examine whether they need to earn as much or more than farmers from a ½ gallon of organic milk. Consumers need to ask why farmers don't get their fair share of the retail dollar."

If you believe in a fair share of the retail dollar for farmers please sign our petition, get your friends to sign it, have the organizations you support promote the petition. Click on the link below to go to the petition:

http://signon.org/sign/save-organic-dairy-farm?source=c.em.mt&r_by=1915363

Deep Pack Barns for Cow Comfort
and Manure Management

A deep pack barn system generally consists of a foundation of concrete or hard clay with a layer of gravel and then a bedding pack of straw, hay, sawdust or well-chipped wood shavings. Manure and urine mix into the bedding that remains in place for several months and is generally cleaned out once a year.

A deep pack system is different from a composting pack that is aerated in the barn daily by tiller or turning. As with any type of housing structure, adequate bedding and good milking hygiene help manage the pathogens naturally found in a bedded pack system. For the pros and cons of this system please click here.

Dry Cows Do Have Memories

Well they do have a 'biological memory' which can be stimulated by good management practices. The late term pregnancy of a dry cow is a complex biological process that is sensitive and vulnerable to negative challenges. If the challenge is severe enough during the dry period, the dry cow may not be able to biologically recover adequately for a healthy birthing process and lactation performance may be compromised. It is always good for a farmer's bottom-line if the dry cows approach freshening with positive memories. To learn more about the influence of a cow's memory, please click here.

Update from UNH
on their Multi-State project

"As more and more farmers adopt organic agriculture practices, they need the best science available to operate profitable and successful organic farms," says Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of USDA. The University of New Hampshire takes this charge seriously with their project to assist organic dairy producers to meet new and emerging markets. The project, which was funded through NIFA's Organic Research and Extension Initiative, addresses needs expressed by organic dairy farmers in a series of focus group interviews funded by two planning grants. To learn more please click here.

New England Farmers Are the 99%

Though we didn't pitch a tent in any city park, we know that agriculture in New England is not part of the 1%. The 1% are the agribusiness conglomerates. They don't till our rocky soils or haul trainloads of grain, sugar, cotton or rice across our mountains. They don't have small, organic dairy herds that graze our rocky slopes. They are the 1% who benefits most from government programs. They are the 1% with the most money for lobbyists and advertising. They are the 1% that says, "Agriculture is big business. We have to feed the world." How can we occupy our seat at this national table? To find the answer, click here.

Summary of Odairy Discussions:
"Gee, it's not just me."

NODPA's list serve was quieter than usual until the issue of pay price and feed costs hit the airwaves. One of the best aspects of this list serve is that it connects farmers to each other and, in times of crises, reassures them that they are not alone and that the predicaments they are experiencing are being shared by others. Sharing the increased cost of feed and other costs that are outside the control of organic dairy producers provides some comfort to farmers that it wasn't because of their poor management that they were losing money on their operations. To read more, click here.

Profile of New NOSB Member: Jean Richardson

In December 2011, five new members were named to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the 15 member advisory board that helps set standards for the National Organic Program. Jean Richardson is one of the newly appointed members and will assume the consumer/public interest slot. It is a five-year term, set to begin this January. Having a board member from Vermont is exciting news for producers in the Northeast. Jean has hands-on and practical understanding of organic agriculture; conducts organic inspections of both farm and food processing operations; is a Professor Emerita at the University of Vermont (UVM); is a Founding Director and President of the New England Environmental Policy Center (NEEPC); and Jean's appointment to the NAFTA Commission on Environmental Cooperation by President Clinton will gave her valuable experience listening to diverse perspectives, while remaining independent and immune to bullying. For more on Jean please click here.

ADDED JANUARY 19, 2012

NODPA NEWS RELEASE:
Organic Dairy Family Farmers need a fair share of the retail dollar, they require at least a 40¢ a gallon increase in their milk price to stay in business

A remarkable turn-around in demand for organic dairy products in 2011 has resulted in shortages on supermarket shelves, but organic dairy family farmers find themselves not being able to increase production because they can't pay their bill ... To view the full press release and learn more, click here. We've also started a petition, and over 1000 have already signed on. For details on the petition, click here. To sign on now click the link in the green column at the right, just below the payprice info.

Fracking: What are your rights
as a farmer?

New York State farmers or land owners who have signed gas leases but want to ensure their termination at the expiration date, must go through a step by step process as defined by NYS law. Click here for a packet of information that has been developed by a knowledgeable attorney, with instructions and template letters, both for expiring leases and to respond to force majeure letters (when the company arbitrarily extends the lease, with no rental payment, if some unforeseen event beyond the control of that company happens) from gas companies trying to extend the term of the lease.

From City to the Farm: A Financial Downfall? "It just doesn't add up."

"In 1995 when we purchased a farm in central Minnesota, it was the Ideal place to raise children. We started with farrow to finish hogs, a few milk cows, and chickens on the farm. Refusing to support large corporations by using chemicals, GMO grains, and wanting to be self-supporting and responsible to the land of which we were stewards, we began transitioning the farm to organic production. We became certified organic in 2000 and focused our attention on becoming a certified organic dairy farm. Like everyone else, to make ends meet I also worked off the farm in home construction. From 2000 until now it takes twice as many milking cows to cover the farm expenses. The cost changes in production needed to sustain a farm from 2000 to today has nearly doubled with little to no increase in milk price." What is going on? Read more >

eOrganic Dairy: A Year in Review
and What's on Tap for 2012

Over the past a couple of years, you may have heard about eOrganic. It’s an online community of more than 700 ag service providers and farmers who are providing science, experience, and regulation-based certified organic information on the web at www.extension.org/organic_production. The eOrganic Dairy Team is led by Drs. Heather Darby (University of Vermont Extension) and Cindy Daley (California State University—Chico). More than 60 farmers, agronomists, veterinarians, grazing and certification specialists, animal scientists, and other professionals are working together to publish peer-reviewed articles, videos, and webinars on a range of organic dairy topics. To learn more from Debra Heleba, eOrganic Dairy Team Coordinator, please go to:

nodpa.com/research_ed_eOrganic_2012_01192012.shtml

Winter Conference Highlights

Conference season is upon us; a time to reflect on 2011, plan for 2012 and beyond, and gather with like-minded people. It is a time to read, learn, share, teach, connect with friends and make new acquaintances. If you visit our Calendar page, you will see that there are many, many conferences and workshops coming up. To find out more about winter conference highlights taking place in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Vermont in greater detail, click here.

Changing of Officers and Board Members at NODPA

NODPA is an organic dairy farm family member organization that is incorporated as a not-for –profit 501 (c) 5 organization. As a membership organization, NODPA By-Laws prescribe that NODPA Board and Officers are elected by their farmer peers. NODPA holds elections annually for a third of its Board members and for the four Officers of the organization. This year the elections were held on December 19th 2011 by conference call. For more information on the elections and the farmer governing body of NODPA, click here.

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5 Ways You Can Support NODPA
Eight and a half years ago NODPA was formed in response to a threat of a drop in milk price. In 2009 NODPA is the only organization whose mission is to represent the interest of organic dairy producers no matter who they sell their milk to.

Click here for a summary of the many ways you can support NODPA and the farmers it represents.

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