USA: Organic Valley awards $ 40,000 to college

Organic Valley, the largest and oldest cooperative of organic family farmers in the USA, has awarded a $ 40,000 grant to the Research Foundation at California State University in Chico through their Farmers Advocating for Organics grant program. The money will be used by CSU, Chico’s College of Agriculture organic dairy, to help fund a two-year study focused on improving net profit by improving pasture management. In spring 2007, the University’s farm transitioned to an all-organic dairy program and celebrated an alliance as a full-fledged member of Organic Valley Family of Farms.

The campus herd of 80 milking cows thrives on a pasture-based program of irrigated pasture and crop ground. With a mission to serve as a site for education and applied researching organic livestock production practices, the CSU organic dairy is run by a team of 20 students with faculty oversight and instruction. A number of classes use the facility for laboratory exercises in pasture management, milking hygiene, organic livestock management, ration formulations and intensive grazing management. Annually, the campus dairy hosts hundreds of elementary school children, 4H groups and Future Farmers of America clubs.

"This research project is designed to benefit all organic dairy producers and bottlers by providing a better understanding of the economics of organic pasture management and milk production," said George Siemon, one of the founding farmers and CEO of Organic Valley Family of Farms. "Indirectly, it also will promote effective pasture use to maintain consumer confidence and enhance milk quality." In addition to assessing and promoting more sustainable feeding systems, the project will host "grazing schools" for beginning and advanced dairy farmers to encourage and support efficient pasture use. The research will also assess organically approved soil amendments to establish profitability resulting from changes in forage quality and quantity.
 

http://www.organicvalley.coop