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Invaluable Dairy Handbook Just Released

by NOFA New York

By Lisa McCrory

Whether you are transitioning to organic, have been certified organic for years, or are a consultant providing services to organic dairy/transitioning dairy clients, The Organic Dairy Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Transition and Beyond is a wonderful resource for one and all.

This book, which hit the streets in October, covers a full spectrum of important topics from well-known and well respected authors. Topics include marketing, soil quality, pasture management, crop management, herd health, nutrition, record keeping and the ins and outs of a thoughtful organic transition. Within each chapter/subject you will find a thorough and thoughtful layout, complete with two or three farmer case studies, adding depth and dimension to the subject at hand.

At the end of the book you will find many appendices and resources helping you to find organic seed, soil amendments, soil/forage/manure testing services, animal health products, and more. There are body condition scoring charts, locomotion scoring and a handy ‘cow assessment’ form to help you identify key symptoms to health and early onset disease.

The book is bound in a nice metal spiral spine, for frequent use, and includes a handy index in the back so you can quickly look for places in the book where your topic of interest is being covered. If you are transitioning or considering it, then you may be interested in the Transitioning to Organic Dairy Self-Assessment Workbook, also published by NOFA New York.

To order your own book, you can contact Bethany Wallis, NOFA-NY Organic Dairy Project : (315) 806-1180 or email: Bethany.organicdairy@nofany.org. Individual copies are $18 each and bulk rates are available. Thank you NOFA-NY for a very important and useful resource.