Organic milk is the top-selling organic food, but organic dairy farmers live on the edge and do not receive prices that meet expenses.   

>>Tell Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack to help organic dairies stay in business.

After years of milk prices that do not cover the cost of organic production, organic dairy farmers in the US are in crisis, and their farms need improvements. Increased consolidation in milk processing and inconsistent enforcement of regulations by the National Organic Program have led to oversupply and a low pay price. More recently, energy costs have increased rapidly as essential feed components have doubled and tripled in price due to unstable international market forces. This threatens the viability of small and mid-sized farms. 

Since 2016, dairy states have been losing family organic dairy farms at an alarming rate. In Vermont, over 35% of organic dairy family farms have folded or left organic. Immediate support to address dramatically increased organic input costs for organic dairy farms is urgently needed. Organic dairy farmers appreciate the recently announced U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) funding, but say more aid will be needed to keep organic dairies in business.  

Given the recent estimate that under 50% of the $104 million awarded to the program will be used in the first round, the remaining 25% of estimated marketing costs should be immediately distributed through an automatic process, bringing payments up to $1.10/cwt without requiring producers to re-apply. In addition, USDA should initiate an immediate subsequent round of the program to reflect the difference in costs between marketing of organic and conventional milk—which include greater hauling costs to avoid commingling with nonorganic milk, smaller herds, and a limited number of processing facilities, as well as more expensive organic feed. USDA has acknowledged that there is a significant lack of available data on the production and utilization of organic milk.  

Support is needed for regional programs to collect and publish cost of production data for organic milk, including all costs, not just organic feed. USDA should make full use of the $104 million allocated to the ODMAP program to reflect the higher cost of marketing organic milk as opposed to nonorganic. The National Organic Program must consistently enforce the law for organic dairies, including access to pasture and origin of livestock, to level the playing field for small and mid-sized farms.

There are reasons that organic milk is the top-selling organic food. Milk is important in the diet of children. Research finds that organic milk has a higher nutritional content than non-organic milk, including healthier omega-3 fatty acids and more disease-fighting antioxidants. Organic cows are raised in humane conditions and eat healthy diets, so organic milk can be free of antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones or toxic pesticides. Thus, many parents choose to give their kids a healthy start by feeding them organic dairy. 

>>Tell Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack to help organic dairies stay in business.

The target for this Action is the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

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