2008 Annual Report for LNE05-234
Focus on organic dairy: An integrated program for Pennsylvania producers
Summary
“Focus on Organic Dairy: An Integrated Program for Pennsylvania Producers” is a four year SARE-funded project designed to fill an organic knowledge gap that often dissuades would-be organic dairy producers from taking the big step of transitioning to a new system of farm management. Led by an Organic Transition Specialist from Pennsylvania Certified Organic, the project provides information and knowledge through guidance materials, newsletters, intensive workshops, hands-on field days, one-on-one phone and email assistance, interaction with an Organic Dairy Advisory Panel, transitional farm visits and trained support staff.
Significant individual follow-up contact encourages continued participation by farmers and allows us to track our milestones and performance targets, which focus on two groups of beneficiaries: organic and transitioning dairy farmers. For transitioning organic farmers, we expect this project to result in an increase in at least 30 producers successfully meeting the requirements for organic certification. Once a farm is certified, the project will continue to educate and support the farmer with the expectation that at least 40 farmers will improve their knowledge of organic standards and practices, thereby increasing the likelihood of ongoing success.
We were very pleased to meet and/or exceed all projected milestones and targets.
Objectives/Performance Targets
Performance Target #1: Thirty (30) Pennsylvania dairy producers will complete the transition to organic production by the end of the project’s four-year period.
Performance Target #2: Forty (40) organic and transitioning dairy producers in Pennsylvania will improve their knowledge of organic production standards and practices.
Accomplishments/Milestones
Milestone 1: Two Hundred Pennsylvania dairy producers will hear about PCO’s organic dairy program.
The Organic Transition Specialist, Patty Neiner, was rather busy connecting with new and transitioning farmers. Patty or another Transition Team member spoke with farmers at 24 field days, workshops or agricultural events. They presented information about the program and answered questions about the process of transitioning to organic dairying. On average, about 30 people attended each event bringing the total attendees for 2008 to about 700. See Attachments 1 and 2 for Fall Standards Meeting Announcement and PCO’s Annual Meeting Announcement.
1/8/08-1/10-08 Keystone Farm Show, York County, PA
1/29/08-1/30/08 Organic Valley Lecture, Spring Mills, PA
2/7/08-2/9/08 PASA Conference, Centre County, PA
2/20/08 DMS Dairy meeting, Bird-in-Hand, PA
3/1/08 Natural and Organic Dairy Presentation, Lewistown, PA
3/8/08 Natural and Organic Dairy Presentation, Berks County, PA
3/4/08 Northwest Grazers Conference, Dubois, PA
3/11/08 Homestead Nutrition Organic Day, New Holland, PA
3/15/08 Natural and Organic Dairy Presentation, Washington, PA
4/2/08 PCO Spring Meeting, Lititz, PA
5/28/08 Lancaster Ag Products Open House, Ronks, PA
7/7/08 Organic Valley’s “Organic Herd Health Discussion and Cropping and Pasture Walk”, Newmanstown, PA
7/8/08 Organic Valley’s “Organic Herd Health Discussion and Cropping and Pasture Walk”, Van Wert, PA
7/9/08 Organic Valley’s “Organic Herd Health Discussion and Cropping and Pasture Walk”, Mifflinburg, PA
9/20/08 Certified Organic, Grass-Based Dairy Farm Field Day, Aaronsburg, PA
9/3/08 Bucky Ziegler’s Organic Pasture Walk, Milton, PA
9/18/08 NODPA’s 1st Annual Southeast Regional Field Day, Kirkwood, PA
9/22/08 Gary Zimmer’s Organic Crop, Pasture, and Soil Fertility Discussion, Mifflin, PA
9/23/08 Forrest Sticker’s Organic Pasture Walk, Wernersville, PA
10/22/08 CROPP Meeting
10/26/08-10/28/08 NODPA 8th Annual Field Days and Producer Meeting, Auburn, NY
11/5/08 PCO Fall Standards Meeting, Lititz, PA
12/4/08 PCO Annual Meeting, State College, PA
12/11/08 Pasture Rule Listening Session, Gap, PA
Milestone 2: One Hundred twenty dairy farmers will attend at least one of the workshops or field days.
PCO was directly involved in educating farmers, agricultural professionals, inspectors and consumers about organic dairy production and certification through workshops, field days and PCO’s Annual Meeting.
Dr. Kathy Soder, USDA-ARS discussed grazing, nutrition, and herd health at a full day DMS Meeting in Lancaster County. More than 50 people attended. Organic transition specialist, Patty Neiner and Certification Specialist, Seth Palmer, discussed dairy issues with numerous attendees one on one throughout the day.
A Certified Organic, Grass-Based Dairy Farm Field Day was held at Elmer King’s PCO-certified dairy, Triangle Organics. Participants toured pastures and the milking parlor, received explanations of sanitation and safety regulations for raw milk sales, and watched a demonstration of small-batch dairy products. More than 50 people attended, at least 5 of who were interested in transition and received information regarding the related issues.
An Organic Pasture Walk at Bucky Ziegler’s PCO-certified Paradise Valley Organic Farm provided 30+ attendees an opportunity to see and hear about Bucky’s organic cropping system, production and marketing practices, and organic certification requirements. PCO staff discussed transition related issues with several attendees.
One hundred people attended a PCO sponsored Organic Pasture Walk at Forrest Stricker’s PCO-certified dairy farm. Ten transitioning farmer attendees discussed organic certification requirements with PCO staff.
Milestone 3: One hundred organic dairy producers will either read dairy resources or contact PCO’s Transition Specialist.
PCO continues to address dairy-related issues in their quarterly newsletter, Organic Matters. There are approximately 1000 paid subscribers to the PCO publication, many of whom are transitioning and organic dairy farmers. See Attachments 3 and 4 for copies of “Organically Speaking” and Attachment 5 for a dairy related “Materials Update”.
Milestone 4: Forty farmers from conventional or transitioning operations will request information.
In 2008, 108 dairy producers requested and received information packets about organic certification out of a total of 234 information requests. The PCO certification team answered an average of 6 calls per day from transitioning farmers.
Milestone 5: Thirty-five transitioning farmers will request and receive a transitional farm visit.
The Organic Transition Specialist performed two transitional farm visits this year, bringing the total number of visits to 72 since the program began in April 2005.
Milestone 6: Thirty farmers will respond to mail, phone, or e-mail surveys regarding program needs and changes in farmer practices.
PCO Board members and the Education Committee cooperatively conducted a survey to assess the increase in knowledge from the PCO Annual Meeting. 16 people returned surveys. Of the 6 people who attended the Management Intensive Rotational Grazing session, 3 reported a great increase in knowledge, 2 reported a moderate increase in knowledge and 1 reported a slight increase in knowledge. Please see Attachment 6 for the results of this survey.
Milestone 7: Thirty transitioning farmers will submit paperwork for organic certification.
PCO received 28 applications for organic dairy in 2008. The total organic dairy applications received since April 2005 is 99, thus we have clearly exceeded our goal of 30 new dairy applications.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
Performance Target 1: Thirty Pennsylvania dairy producers will complete the transition to organic production by the end of the project’s four-year period.
In 2008, 28 Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware dairy farmers submitted applications for organic certification. PCO issued organic certification for 243 dairy farms in 2008. Of the 243 dairy farms, 28 obtained new certification while 215 renewed previous certification.
A total of 136 dairy farmers have become certified since the project began in April of 2005.
* 7 dairy producers became certified organic from April 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005.
* 28 dairy producers became certified organic from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006.
*73 dairy producers became certified organic from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007
* 28 dairy producers became certified organic from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008.
We have exceeded our Performance target of 30 by 106.
Performance Target 2: Of the 120 organic and transitioning dairy producers in Pennsylvania, 40 will improve their knowledge of production standards and practices.
PCO Board members and the PCO Education Committee conducted a survey to assess the increase in knowledge from the PCO Annual Meeting. 16 people completed the survey. 10 out of 12 people stated they had an increase in knowledge of Government programs to assist transitioning farmers for a rate of 83%. 10 out of 12 people stated they had in increase in knowledge related to rotational grazing patterns for a rate of 83%. 12 out of 12 people stated an increase in knowledge of tactics for improved soil health for a rate of 100%. 12 out of 12 people stated they had an increase in knowledge of pest management practices for a rate of 100%. We can extrapolate from the previously mentioned percentages that of the 700 people who attended events in 2008, 637 would have increased their knowledge of production standards and practices.