Latest NODPA News
Kiss the Cow farm balances an impressive line of products and services with a very small herd! By Amy Anselm, NODPA Contributing Writer
Kiss the Cow Farm in Barnard, Vermont is owned and operated by Randy and Lisa Robar, educators by background and now twenty-year veteran farmers of an organic, grass-fed dairy. While the scale of their herd is comparatively small—averaging 12 milking cows at a time—they have a robust and diverse line of products and services including A2A2 milk, ice cream, and organic eggs—plus a farm store and a whole-diet CSA. “This farm certainly isn’t what it was 20 years ago,” Randy says, “it evolves!”
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posted
to Featured Farms
on Sat, May 09, 2026
Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport, PA 19533, September 24 & 25, 2026
Let’s face it, 2025 was a very difficult farming year for Northeast dairy producers when excessive spring rain and extreme drought made it a challenging time to produce high quality, abundant feed, to keep cows in tip-top shape, and remain financially afloat. It has given farmers pause, re-assessing current strategies and considering tweaking them for greater stability and success in the face of unpredictable weather conditions and supply chains this farming season. Unlike other annual conferences, the NODPA Field Days moves to different locations—to where the farmers are, instead of a fixed location requiring time and travel away from the farm. This year’s 26th Annual NODPA Field Days is returning to Pennsylvania. On September 24th and 25th, we will be at the Berks County Agricultural Center in Leesport, PA, and, as the title suggests, the educational program will focus on strategies for a successful future, with a special awareness of last year’s challenges.
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posted
to Field Days
on Fri, May 08, 2026
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
The grass may be green, but our boomerang weather is making it difficult for those looking for grass that can be grazed. New England, Eastern New York, and parts of Pennsylvania remain in a moderate drought and are now classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor as experiencing long-term effects, typically lasting more than six months and impacting hydrology and ecology. Although higher-than-normal temperatures covered almost the entire region, rainfall was mostly limited to northern areas—from western Pennsylvania and New York up through northern Vermont and New Hampshire into Maine—where many locations received at least 150% of their usual precipitation for the time of year. Ongoing drought conditions across the United States bring concerns for grazing and the availability of high-quality organic hay.
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posted
to Industry News
on Fri, May 08, 2026
Joshua Greene, director of Education, Trees For Graziers
Silvopasture, the thoughtful integration of trees, livestock, and forages, has found a ready audience in the world of organic dairy. As dairy folk across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic encounter the idea of silvopasture for the first time, many objections are raised and for good reasons. At first thought, the idea of planting trees in pastures seems like a crazy idea. Here are some of the typical first responses we hear:
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posted
to Organic Production
on Fri, May 08, 2026
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
Total sales of organic packaged fluid milk for January 2026 show a decline of 5.4% over 2025 sales, as conventional fluid milk sales shows a decline of 2.3% over January 2025. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market Information Branch published estimated national organic fluid milk product sales for January and February 2026, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO). Total US sales of packaged organic fluid milk products were estimated at 261 million pounds in January 2026, with organic Whole Milk sales at 146 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 114 million pounds. In February 2026, total sales of organic packaged milk were 242 million pounds, with sales of organic packaged Whole Milk at 140 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 101 million pounds.
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posted
to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices
on Fri, May 08, 2026
By: Dr. Elizabeth Martens, DVM, Valleywide Veterinary Services, Bridport, VT
The bulk tank milk culture is a powerful tool to make sure your herd doesn’t become infected with any of the really bad mastitis bugs and allows you to do something about it before it affects SCC and mastitis case numbers. The main things we look for on a bulk tank culture are: Mycoplasma, Prototheca and Staph aureus. These are the big 3 contagious, non-treatable bacteria that can become a big problem if ignored. They can pop up suddenly even in 100% closed herds. Prototheca and Mycoplasma are considered newly emerging issues on dairy farms in the Northeast, while Staph aureus is a relatively well known ongoing cause of contagious mastitis.
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posted
to Organic Production
on Fri, May 08, 2026
by Roman Stoltzfoos
Hope you’re having a happy spring time and that you had a good winter. It’s time to think about what you’re going to do different in the 2026 grazing season. How you start your season has a lot to do with your success through the season. A couple pointers:
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posted
to Industry News
on Fri, May 08, 2026
By Kasey Hower, Berks County Dairy Educator, Penn State Extension
A new initiative from Penn State Extension is giving dairy producers an opportunity to take a closer look at how grazing, feeding, and nutrient management practices affect both pro?tability and environmental performance. The Organic and Regenerative Dairy Farm Assessment Program will work directly with participating farms in Pennsylvania throughout the 2026 grazing season. The effort aims to evaluate current management practices and provide producers with data-driven recommendations to improve forage yield and quality, increase nutrient use efficiency, and make better use of homegrown feeds.
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posted
to Organic Production
on Fri, May 08, 2026
By Kate Creutzinger, UVM
A collaborative project between the University of Vermont and Penn State Extension is currently recruiting dairy producers in the Northeastern United States who rear calves with nurse cows (also known as foster cows ). The goals of this project are to evaluate cow and calf health in nurse cow systems and better understand the needs, challenges, and priorities of producers using these systems. Participation involves a one-time farm visit, during which our research team will conduct health assessments of cows and calves and administer a short questionnaire about your experiences. Participating producers will receive $50 and have the opportunity to connect with other dairy farmers rearing calves with cows. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Kate Creutzinger at 513-218-2721 or Kate.creutzinger@uvm.edu.
posted
to Organic Production
on Fri, May 08, 2026
