Skyrocketing Costs Put
Full-time Farming On Hold
Added May 9, 2008. A mix of family and supportive neighbors are making it work for Craig and Angela Russell of Brotherly Farm in Randolph Center, Vermont. MORE >

New This Week | June 20 to 27

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 >

New Classified Ads
Animals for Sale: 10 organic milking cows for sale: Jersey, Ayreshire, & Lineback. Certified organic 100% grassfed cows. Certified organic steers. English bulldog pups. Holstein herd. Holstein breeding bull. Help Wanted: Herdsman / Assistant Farm Manager and Intern for CT farm. Grains and Forage for Sale: Certified organic hay, 2008 first crop. Large, certified organic alfalfa round bales. Equipment: Allis K2 combine for sale. Two types of balers. Smith Cast Iron Boiler 19A series. Looking for used bale wrapper. Real Estate: 58 acre farm and farm house in south central NY. Abetoir for sale in Ontario. Or, go to the classifieds home page.

IN THE PAST MONTH:

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 >

May NODPA News Now Available Online
The May isssue of NODPA News featured stories on fly control, homegrown forages, processor contract requirements, the future economics of organic dairy, reflections on consumers and high dairy prices, the rising cost of feed, and much more. Click here to open a PDF version of the newsletter.

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 >

Maximizing Milk On Homegrown Forages And Grains
Added May 16, 2008. Each load of grain is creeping higher and higher, with no end in sight. To remedy that situation, here are some farmer-tested strategies for growing high quality forages and grains, including choice of crops, crop rotations, feeding programs, production goals and economics. MORE >

New Guides Help Farmers Understand and Negotiate Organic Dairy Contracts
May 16, 2008: The organic milk market is competitive, and organic dairy producers need information to understand their options when selling organic milk. Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc. (FLAG) allowed FLAG to publish these two guides in recent NODPA News issues, and now both are available in attractive PDF formats for downloading:

• When Your Processor Requires More than Organic Certification: Additional Requirements in Organic Milk Contracts
• Hushed Up: Confidentiality Clauses in Organic Milk Contracts

Farmers may request a copy of one or both articles directly by calling FLAG's office. Minnesota callers should dial FLAG's office at 1-877-860-4349. For out-of-state callers, the number is 651-223-5400. A small fee is charged for printing and mailing costs for non-farmers. For more info on FLAG, go to their web site: www.flaginc.org.

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

Recent Conversations on ODairy
In the past month, ODairy ListServ participants have debated pay price issues, discussed grain prices and answered questions about a wide variety of topics, including fly predators, difficult births and when to band and dehorn bull calves. Learn 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 >

Put It On Your Calendar, Kids:
Grazing School Starts in August
Beginning and experienced graziers who would like to learn about the tools and resources needed to develop grazing systems and how to improve animal growth or production through better pasture management are invited to attend a Grazing School to be held as part of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Summer Conference on Saturday, August 9th. Learn 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 >

Field Days Event Changes Time of Year
NODPA's 8th Annual Field Days event has been scheduled for a different time this year. Learn more about why.

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.

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.

Check out the 15 new entries in our business directory ...
... and consider adding your own business. MORE