Dairy producers, agribusinessmen learn more about organic milk production

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

May 30, 2002 -- Besides the dairy farmers interested in learning how to be certified organic, some "support" businessmen and officials attended Organic Valley's May 17 meeting in Sulphur Springs to learn how they can become involved in the process.

Organic Valley is the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative in North America. Plans have advanced steadily towards having organic milk production in Northeast Texas by August 2003.

Timothy Griffin, pool resource coordinator for Organic Valley, said it was a "well-rounded crowd" that met May 17 to discuss the steps necessary to convert a dairy to organic -- a process that takes about one year.

Organic Valley had publicly encouraged agribusinesses with interest in supplying organic milk producers to attend the meeting. Griffin said he was pleased that two feed mill representatives were present, plus the county's Extension Agent Larry Spradlin, County Judge Cletis Milsap, John Willis, who designs organic composters, and Jim Wyrick of the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

"We explained the transition to organic," Griffin said. "There is a lot of detail with this .. and we want it to be a win/win situation, for the dairy farm family and Organic Valley. Those at the meeting asked a lot of good questions."

Griffin, from Wisconsin, said he also "learned a lot about dairying here in East Texas. I admire these dairy farmers for contending with some of these adverse weather conditions -- hot, humid, drought ...." during his visit to Sulphur Springs. He also noted he "appreciated the hospitality" offered him from all those he met.

Griffin already has a couple of Hopkins County dairy farmers intent on becoming certifiably organic, he said. The transition will involve not only their cows, but the hay, feed, and health care methods, plus the farm's land, and the organic milk's processing destination.

Producers intent on making the switch to become certified as organic "may begin experimenting with alternative herd health products," Griffin added. The cows cannot be given traditional medicines or hormones if their milk is to be organic.

Griffin said they have plans to bring organic feed into the area, but discussions are continuing with local feed dealers. "I think, also, there are many individual producers who would want organic feed" for their livestock, he added.

Organic Valley is also looking for coastal hay sources. "We think there are landowners that have some unfertilized coastal hay fields" that could be cut and baled for the organic dairy farmers' cows.

The organic cooperative has also discussed processing and packaging the milk in Sulphur Springs. "We made some contacts with plant officials," he said. "We've made some in-roads."

Griffin said the main advantage of organic production for the local producer is a stable pay price.

"We have the number two organic brand in the country and, for the organic producer, what we offer is stability," Griffin said. "When it (Organic Valley Cooperative) was founded, in 1988, the producers said they wanted a pay price they could depend on."

With the pay price and charge price set by the cooperative, and not based on the conventional market, farmers can plan ahead based on what they know they are are going to get paid.

"Overall, it is more profitable," he said. "Our producers stay on the truck, they continue farming, we attract a lot of younger farmers and have a younger profile than most, but we have farmers from 20 to 75."

Organic Valley has 305 certified dairies in 11 states. When the cooperative began in 1988, they came on with seven organic dairy producers. Six of those seven are still with the cooperative.

In 2001, Organic Valley added 65 dairy farm families. Griffin said organic milk is the "hottest sector" in the organic market.

For more information, contact Griffin at 888-444-6544, ext. 285, or e-mail tim.griffin@organicvalley.com.

(Kerry Craig, Sulphur Springs News-Telegram city editor, contributed to this story.)