Recent Industry News

RECENT NEWS & OPINION FROM NODPA

National Organic Coalition opposes proposed Sustainability Standards from Leonardo Institute
Added September 27, 2008. The National Organic Coalition is deeply concerned about the adverse impact that a sustainable agriculture label will have on the urgent need to increase our nation’s organic acreage and production practices. View their letter to the Leonardo Institute, which NODPA has signed on to. (in PDF format)

The Latest East & Midwest Organic Grain & Hay Prices
Added September 14, 2008. The wheat market is seeing a bit of weakening as many users are quickly filling their needs after a good harvest. No new crop soybean contracts were reported as producers are still in a wait and see mode, especially with the cooler, wet weather. Some big volumes of new crop corn contracts are being sold from $10.00 per bushel to $10.75 per bushel. There just seems to be a lot of uncertainty in that market. Read more, including graphs of price for soybeans and corn for 2008 ….

Funding Opportunities
Research and planning grants in the Northeast and North Central US
Added September 14, 2008. Click here for a listing of funding opportunities in the Northeast and North Central US.

Recent ODairy Discussions
Topics recently ranged from how to wrap rained-on forages to what kinds of tests for cows before purchase. MORE >

September NODPA News Now
Available To Members For Download in PDF
The latest edition of NODPA's informative, 40-page by-monthly print newsletter is now available for download in PDF format to all NODPA members and newsletter subscribers. Click here to download it now!

The Latest East & Midwest
Organic Grain & Hay Prices
Added September 5, 2008. Flood, drought, hurricane, ethanol, high world prices – any wonder it’s difficult to keep up with how much your winter feed will cost. At NODPA we at least try to keep you informed. Click here for more.

RESOURCE

European Union Launches Promotional Campaign for Organic Food and Farming
The European Commission announced recently that it is launching a new Organic Farming Campaign for the European Union. Under the campaign slogan: "Organic farming. Good for nature, good for you," the promotional campaign aims to inform consumers about the meaning and benefits of organic farming and food production. The campaign will focus on increasing consumer awareness and recognition of organic products. As part of the initiative, a new multilingual website for organic farming provides an electronic "toolbox" that offers marketing materials in 22 languages free of charge in order to promote organic production and farming.

The Latest East & Midwest
Organic Grain & Hay Prices
Added August 3, 2008. Organic grain farmers are talking, but there's not much action yet: They are assessing the market but most don’t want to do anything yet as they are waiting to see what the crop will bring. There was some trading in new crop corn sales and some new crop spring wheat and hard red winter wheat sales, but no drop in prices. Availability will be the next big question. MORE >

So You Want To Learn More About Organic Dairy?
Added August 3, 2008. Organic dairy has been growing rapidly over the past 10 years and with that, a number of educational opportunities have evolved. Karen Hills, Crop and Soil Technician at the University of Vermont has compiled a very nice summary of opportunities from degree programs, non-degree programs, and internships. Contact us at NODPA if you know of other opportunities that should be added to this list! Learn more >

Recent Organic Research
On Organics & Food Supply
Added July 29, 2008. Below you'll find links to recent organic studies. The articles focus on "Can organic feed the world?" and the economics of organic transition. All are posted on our web site in PDF format. To open or download a research article, just click on one of the links below:

• Organic agriculture and the global food supply
  Research finds that organic methods could produce enough food on a global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and potentially an even larger population, without increasing the agricultural land base.
• Can organic agriculture feed the world?
  A forum discussion on the same topic as in the first article, above, by the same authors, with response and commentary by others.
• Summary of Economic Studies of Organic Dairy Farming in Wisconsin, New England, and Quebec
  Research summary tries to answer 3 questions for farmers considering organic: What are the rewards? How long will it take to get them? What will it cost?
• Transition to Organic Cropping Systems Under Risk
  An analysis of the risks, returns and optimal adoption strategies for a representative Minnesota farm switching from conventional to organic cropping systems.
• New Michigan Global Yield Comparison Study: Challenges Critics Who Claim Organic Farmers Can’t Feed the World
• Land Stewardship Project Myth Buster #21:
  Sustainable farming CAN feed the world

More Organic Milk Sought in Northeast
Added July 29, 2008. The word from all the major organic dairy buyers on what they're looking for at this time. Farmers should be sure to have a market secured before beginning the 12 month herd transition. Here's contact information from buyers that will help you secure your markets. MORE >So You Want To Learn More About Organic Dairy?
Added July 21, 2008. For those in search of more directed educational opportunities, there are several options to choose from including university programs, workshops, and internships. Learn more >

Price & Availability of Corn & Forage: How should producers prepare for the Fall?
Added July 5, 2008. So: What is affecting price and availability? In general, people are assuming that tonnage of grain will be short this year and much of the corn that is for sale is, in a sense, being set aside to wait and see. Other factors affecting price include speculators and Hedge Fund investors who are joining the commodity market as they exploit the uncertainty and short fall in supply against rising markets. Read Lisa McCrory’s article for a full analysis.

The Latest East & Midwest Grain & Hay Prices
Analysis, data and some advice from Iowa State University on replanting after the flood, plus the latest numbers on East and Midwest grain and hay prices, and a chart showing cost changes over time. MORE >

Recent ODairy Discussions
Added July 5, 2008. Will consumers change (or not change) their purchasing decisions in the marketplace driven by the tightening economy? Is there any research that would support that transition to organic production does not necessarily mean a drop in milk production? Plus, lots of tidbits and advice: bull calves become sexually active at 7-8 months of age, and how to stop diarrhea. Summarized by NODPA Board Secretary Liz Bawden. MORE >

PRESS RELEASE: June 18, 2008
NODPA stands for a living wage for organic dairy farm families
NODPA appeals to all processors to listen to their farmers and work with them to increase their base farmgate pay price by a total of 60¢ a gallon to move towards family farm profitability. We also support a temporary moratorium on transitioning livetock farms to organic. To learn more, and check out our new ad promoting this issue, click here.

The Price of Feed
June 20, 2008: Analysis--Grains and oilseeds lower on profit taking and outside markets. Plus the latest numbers on East and Midwest grain and hay prices, and a chart showing cost changes over time. MORE >

Coalition of Organic Groups Presses for Immediate Publication of Pasture Access and Livestock Origin Rules
June 16, 2008: NODPA and the National Organic Coalition joins with Federation of Organic Dairy Farmers, WhiteWave Foods (Horizon Organic), HP Hood (Stonyfield brand), Organic Valley, Stonyfield Farm, Humboldt Dairy, Organic Choice, Pastureland Cooperative and Organic Dairy Farmers Cooperative to urge USDA to publish the access to pasture and origin of dairy livestock standards immediately. We've updated this, with a fuller history of the initiative.
Learn more >

The Retail Food Dollar and How Farmers Receive Their Share
June 7, 2008: What portion of the organic milk retail price goes to the farmer, and what will it take to keep farmers profitable for the longterm? Enjoy this fascinating look at the complexities of the retail organic dairy market. MORE >

DC Update, June 6, 2008
More roadblocks to pasture access and livestock origin rules. Farm Bill: back to the President soon for another veto? Attention turns to appropriation bills. MORE >

The Price of Feed
June 6, 2008: The latest numbers on East and Midwest grain and hay prices, plus a charting of cost changes over time. MORE >

DC Update, June 1, 2008
The Farm Bill is very close to becoming law despite its many clerical and political missteps. See what everyone is saying about it. MORE >

NOSB Update, June 1, 2008
While the Congress was on vacation, the volunteers that serve on the hardworking citizen advisory National Organic Standards Board were at work trying to make sense of the National Organic Program ... from adding Okra to the national list, TAP reviews and organically certified protein for fish.  MORE >

Comment on access to pasture and origin of livestock
A letter from NODPA to the NOP addresses publication of the access to pasture rule and the publication of an origin of livestock rule. MORE >

DC Update, May 23, 2008
Farm Bill Updates, and NOP dairy update. MORE >

The Price of Feed
Added May 21, 2008. The latest organic grain and hay prices in the East and Midwest, plus a pay price/retail price comparison chart for organic milk. MORE >

DC Update, May 16, 2008
The Farm Bill is final on the President's desk, awaiting a veto and then a certain override of that veto. Here are some of highlights related to organic and sustainable agriculture. MORE >

Realistic Expectations: What Are They?
Let's ALL get real about our expecations of price & profit, says Darlene Coehoorn, MODPA President. MORE >

Reading the NOP Leaves
What does the recent reorganization at the National Organic Program mean for organic farmers? Samuel Fromartz speculates. MORE >

DC Update as of May 9
Is the Farm Bill battle over? Learn more >

The Price of Feed
Added May 9, 2008. The latest organic grain and hay prices in the East and Midwest, plus a pay price/retail price comparison chart for organic milk. MORE >

DC Update as of May 1
Congress passes two-week farm bill extension. National Organic Coalition and National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture meeting in Baltimore later this month. National Organic Standards Board meets just afterward, same location. Learn more >

More Organic Milk Sought in Northeast
Added May 4, 2008. The latest word from processors seeking organic milk. MORE >

Press Release: April 28, 2008
HP Hood LLC refuses to address increase in costs of production for their organic family farms and demands money back for a one month overpayment of 17 cents a gallon.

Press Release: April 30, 2008
HP Hood LLC refuses to address increase in costs of production for their organic family farms
Also demands money back for a one month overpayment of 17 cents a gallon. MORE >

A Quick Update from DC re Pasture Rule
April 25, 2008: The access to pasture rule is moving up the review hierarchy in Washington. Click here to learn more about the details.

Interviews with Ed Maltby and Gary Hirschberg On Boston's WBZ Radio
April 22, 2008: WBZ 1030 in Boston ran two interviews on organic dairy. NODPA director Ed Maltby provided the farmer perspective on high fuel costs and their impact on farmer profits, while Stoneyfield's Gary Hirschberg spoke to the impact of these costs on organic businesses.

Click here to listen to Ed's interview.
Click here to listen to Gary's interview.

Why Organic Dairy Farmers Should Learn To Love High Organic Grain Prices
Kevin Engelbert argues that, instead of condemning organic crop producers for finally getting parity price, we should all celebrate. Added April 4, 2008.

ACTION ALERT: Posted March 28, 2008
Stop the Attack on Public Health and the Environment in the Farm Bill
Proposed Farm Bill language would restrict USDA’s ability to prohibit the use of pesticides in certain conservation programs. MORE >

Profitability for Organic Dairy Farms for 2006
Added March 28, 2008. The organic dairy sector has become a haven for smaller family operated farms, but they have not escaped the situation where rising feed, fuel, and other expenses continue to chip away at their profitability. Click here for more on this detailed analysis by Bob Parsons.

NODPA Press Release Inspires Spirited Dialogue On Production Costs and Pay Price
March 14, 2008. On March 7, the NODPA board and members of the FOOD Farmers organizing committee published a press release on the Gristmill web site calling attention to rising production costs for organic farmers--and the limited response to this crisis from processors. The press release brought a response from Gary Hirschberg of Stoneyfield Farm, and a final response from NODPA Executive Director Ed Maltby. To learn more about the issue, and to browse the back-and-forth responses, click here.

Pennsylvania Pasture Lab Update
March 14, 2008. The deadline for budget requests to the House Ag Appropriations sub-committee--which decides the future of the pasture lab--is next week. Revisit our article on this topic and send in your letters of support! MORE >

RECENT NATIONAL NEWS ITEMS

• September 23, 2008
  Law offers cash to smooth shift to organic farms DesMoinesRegister.com -
  Des Moines, IA, USA
  The new farm bill could help feed America's appetite for organic food by enticing more farmers to switch from conventional agriculture. The bill offers farmers as much as $20,000 a year to cover the cost of converting their farms to organic agriculture.
  
  
• September 12, 2008
  Foxboro dairy farm
  sells its milk raw
  Providence Journal,
  Providence, RI
  NOFA is promoting raw milk from organically kept cows. Agriculture and health officials in MA and CT allow the sale of raw milk, produced under strict regulations for purity. However, the sale of raw milk in Rhode Island is prohibited, except to feed pets and farm animals.
  
  
• September 12, 2008
  Organic has lower carbon imprint: BFA
  Farm Weekly, Western Australia, Australia
  People who consume organic food are a carbon-step ahead, according to the Biological Farmers of Australia, which says those eat organic are almost half a tread lighter than their non-organic counterparts.
  
  
• September 9, 2008
  Organic supply squeeze tightens
  Food Navigator, USA
  Farmers in the US are being forced to leave the organic market because it is too costly, compounding supply shortages already faced by food manufacturers, according to a new report
  
  
  
• August 15, 2008
  Getting Paid for How You Farm The new farm bill's conservation programs help growers farming their land rather than those setting it idle.
  
  
• August 8, 2008
  Can Cattle Save Us From Global Warming?
  A small band of activists and scientists believe that farming done the right way can remove carbon from the atmosphere.
  
  
• August 6, 2008
  With a focus on flavor, organic dairy finds a productive niche
  Seattle Post Intelligencer
  The milk from the grazing cows might taste a little different here at Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy. And customers - here's the unusual part for modern-day consumers - also might taste the difference.
• July 21, 2008
  Arkansas dairy farmers hurt with loss of state’s only organic feed DAMASCUS, Ark.—Organic dairy farmers in Arkansas are still feeling the effects of a May 2 tornado that destroyed the state’s only organic feed mill. The Caldwell Milling Co. served nine organic dairies before the storm.
• July 15, 2008
  Cornell moves toward sustainability: Bovine growth hormone touted as 'green'
  But organic farmers skeptical of findings
  By Krisy Gashler, Ithaca Journal
  
• July 14, 2008
  To cut runoff, switch from crops to grass - a solution to flooding
  By Francis Thicke, Des Moines Register
• July 14, 2008
  Is dairy co-op milking the system?
  Kansas City Star
  A consortium of consumer and family farm groups is pushing a Senate committee to investigate Kansas City-based Dairy Farmers of America amid claims of coercion and deceit.
• July 13, 2008
  Organic Growth at Safeway
  By ROB WALKER, New York Times
  O Organics and Eating Right, private label organic brands developed by Safeway, are getting lots of marketing support.
• July 3, 2008
  WODPA President on NPR
  From the Marketplace Sustainability Desk
  Surging grain prices are sending shock waves across the entire food economy, as everyone from bakers to livestock producers feel the pinch of higher costs. That's especially pronounced in the organic food industry, where some are predicting an all-out contraction.
  
  July 1, 2008
  Going With the Grain
  By BETH QUIMBY
  Portland Press Herald, ME
  High prices for out-of-state organic feed is what enticed the Webbs to start growing grain a decade ago, way ahead of the curve. Soon they turned their efforts toward wheat and spelt, with the idea of producing flour.
   
  June 30, 2008
  Organic Trade Association Challenges Ohio’s New Dairy Labeling Rule in Federal Court
  Business Wire
  Files Suit to Protect Integrity of Organic Standards & Consumers’ Constitutional Rights to Truthful Product Information
   
  June 29, 2008  
  Law Lets Farmers Sell More Unpasteurized Milk
  WBZTV - Boston, MA
  Raw milk fans are willing to pay as much as $10 a gallon, and a new law in Vermont increases the amount a farmer can sell each day from 25 to 50 quarts.
  
  June 27, 2008
  Not Just for White People Anymore
  Grist Magazine  
  How the organic movement can regain its relevance ... commentary by Tom Philpott.
  
  June 22, 2008
  Catching an amber wave
  Boston Globe
  Spurred to action by sharply rising prices for transportation and animal feed, and surging consumer demand for locally grown foods, more farmers in New England are deciding to grow grains.
• June 18, 2008
  Fuel, feed prices spike for dairy, livestock producers
  Dothan Eagle
  Dothan, AL, USA
  Jan de Jong with Working Cows Dairy in Slocomb, Alabama, says the price for distillers grain has gone from $145 a ton last year to the current price of $245 a ton.
  
  June 18, 2008
  Speech at Fonterra Organics Conference in New Zealand provides overview of organic sector
  Scoop.co.nz (press release)
  The speech, by Gavin Middleton of Organics Aotearoa, highlighted the growth of organic dairy in New Zealand, which exports almost half - 46% - of its organic milk to the US.
  
• June 3, 2008
  UNH receives $380000 grant to study organic dairy as closed ecosystem
  DURHAM, NH -- University of New Hampshire researchers have received a significant grant to study UNH's organic dairy research farm as a sustainable closed agroecosystem, exploring viable strategies for becoming energy independent.
• May 29, 2008
  German dairy farmers dump milk in protest
  The New York Times
  German dairy farmers are pouring their milk down the drain as part of an effort to raise prices, which have declined by almost one-third even while food prices have sky-rocketed. The Federation of German Dairy Farmers said as much as 60% of the country's milk production in one day was wasted or diverted in protest of falling prices and the European Union's decision to raise production quotas.
   
  May 30, 2008
  NZ: Fonterra farmers set for income boost
  Source: just-food.com  
   
  May 27, 2008
  Organic milk is cream of the crop
  Newcastle University, UK
   
  May 26, 2007
  Iowa dairy specializes in local organic market
  High Plains Journal
  Francis Thicke and his wife, Susan, own Radiance Dairy, an organic dairy located near Fairfield. They milk about 80 Jersey cows now, but the dairy started in 1980 when several families mutually purchased two Jersey cows for their own private raw milk supply.
  
  May 24, 2008
  Columbus-area creamery part of growing trend: processor, packager ...
  Portage Daily Register
  They looked like — well, like a Wisconsin dairy herd. What sets the cows apart, however, is what becomes of their milk. The same farmers who milk the cows also bottle it and sell it.
• May 20, 2008
  Acura reaches out to farmers
  Oneonta Daily Star
  Oneonta, NY, USA
  Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, made a local visit to discuss the farm bill legislation and what is still needed by area farmers. The meeting took place in the kitchen of Hartwick dairy farmer Clifford Brunner ...
• May 21, 2008
  Alexandre EcoDairy Farms
  Daily Triplicate
  Crescent City, CA, USA
  Profile of a 10-year-9ld organic dairy where, on the main farm alone, they milk 1400 cows. In all, the company produces 12000 gallons of certified organic milk a day, which they mainly sell to Humboldt ...
• May 16, 2008
  Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary
  Grist Magazine
  Consumer food prices are rising across the board, but have reached particularly elevated levels for organic dairy; meanwhile, the price dairy farmers get for their milk changed little, while their cost of doing business has jumped.
• May 13
  Organic Milk: Are You Getting What You Pay For?
  Consumer Affairs
  Organic milk is one of the biggest areas of growth in the dairy industry, making up three percent of all US milk sales and growing at a ...
  
  May 10
  Franciscan Order cites high cost of feed in decision to terminate organic dairy
  Santa Rosa Press Democrat - Santa Rosa, CA
  The Franciscan Order's Saint Anthony Farm produces some of the region's best-selling organic milk and butter. By next March, the rehabilitation center owned and operated by the Franciscan ...
• April 20
  Small creamery has fresh attitude
  Wisconsin State Journal
  Springbrook Organic Dairy, about 12 miles west of Hayward in northwestern Wisconsin, operates a dairy that bottles 280 to 350 gallons of whole milk a week with 25 cows.
• April 2008 Issue
  Global barriers to organic field crop production
  Brief overview of national and global issues that are holding back further growth in organic field crop production written by Lynn Clarkson, appears in the current newsletter of the Organic Trade Association.
• April 18
  Sticker Shock in the Organic Aisles
  In some parts of the country, a loaf of organic bread can cost $4.50, a pound of pasta has hit $3, and organic milk is closing in on $7 a gallon. ...
  New York Times
• April 11
  Bill would help organic farmers
  Legislation introduced by an Oley Township Democrat would give financial support during a grower’s three-year transition from traditional agriculture.
  Reading Eagle, PA
• April 9
  The Food Chain:  As Prices Rise, Farmers Spurn Conservation
  New York Times
• April 9
  What Grocers Teach Us About The US Economy
  Forbes, USA
• April 9
  Resistance to Ohio milk labeling restrictions grows
  FoodNavigator-USA - Montpellier, France