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The work included in this thesis is focused on research regarding the organic dairy community and milk quality. Our research is dedicated to assessing differences and best management practices on organic and conventional dairy farms throughout New York, Wisconsin and Oregon. We concentrated on modeling management associations with regularly used milk quality indicators somatic cell count, standard plate count, coliform count, as well as the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in bulk tank milk. We also assessed general differences among conventional non-grazing, conventional grazing and organic dairy farms in the study population. Finally, we assessed the presence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in bulk tank milk of the study population. As a whole, our results indicated that while the organic dairy community faces many unique management challenges and in achieving optimal milk quality, the factors affecting the organic community are much the same as those affecting the conventional community. An interesting point from our research is that farms that tend to use more outside resources and external inputs tend to have better quality. In addition to this finding, conventional farms are more likely to use external resources than organic farms. Finally, we determined that there is a low prevalence of methicillin-resistant coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. and S. aureus in the bulk tank milk of both organic and conventional dairies in our study population. Overall, we have found that while both organic and conventional dairy farms, while facing their own individual challenges, are not all that different in the US.
Organic milk production has been one of the fastest growing segments of organic ag. in the U.S. in recent years. Despite the growing number of organic dairy operations (ODO), the characteristics of ODO and the relative costs of organic and conventional milk production have been difficult to analyze. This study examines the structure, costs, and challenges of ODO. The analysis addresses economies of size, regional differences, and pasture use in ODO and compares organic and conventional milk production costs. The findings suggest that economic forces have made ODO more like conventional operations and that the future structure of the industry may depend on the interpretation and implementation of new organic pasture rules. Illustrations.
Due to the restructuring and trend toward consolidation that has been taking place in the dairy industry for the past several decades; the number of dairy farms in the U.S. has been steadily declining. Smaller dairy farms have been disappearing at a disproportionate rate. At the same time, demand for organic milk has been consistently rising. There is some evidence to suggest that organic dairy may be a viable economic alternative for dairy farmers, but there is little empirical evidence to verify such claims. This study analyzed the financial performance of U.S. organic dairy farms in comparison to conventional dairy farms in the Northeast, highlighted significant structural differences between profitable and unprofitable organic dairy farms, and examined the factors affecting dairy farm profitability in the Northeast. This study shows that organic dairy farms in the Northeast were profitable and that small organic dairy farms were more economically viable than small conventional dairy farms. It was found that farm size, organic milk price, production efficiency, extra income in addition to milk sales, operator's age and expectations regarding the future of the dairy enterprise, and production efficiency had a positive correlation with organic dairy farm profitability. Factors that had a negative influence on organic dairy farm profitability were variable costs per cow, the debt-to-asset ratio of the farm, the average age of the milking herd, family farm status, the hours per day the milking system was in operation, and the choice to dry off milk cows seasonally. The results suggest that transitioning to certified organic status is an economically viable alternative for small conventional dairy farms in the Northeast.
The majority of meat, milk, and eggs consumed in the United States are produced in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO). With concentrated animal operations, in turn comes concentrated manure accumulation, which can pose a threat of contamination of air, soil, and water if improperly managed. Animal Manure: Production, Characteristics, Environmental Concerns, and Management navigates these important environmental concerns while detailing opportunities for environmentally and economically beneficial utilization.
The different ways milk and dairy products are produced in the United States, as well as the pros and cons for consumers, the environment, and the cows involved are described in this provocative book. Readers learn that factory farming practices can produce mass amounts of milk cheaply, but they can also lead to sick cows, a polluted environment, and milk that may not be healthy to drink. Topics covered in this informed narrative include the pasteurization process, the rise of organic milk, the return of raw milk, the making of ripened cheese and processed cheese, the cost of intensive dairy farming, the toll on the environment, and ways teens can become savvy consumers.
Organic milk production has been one of the fastest growing segments of organic agriculture in the United States in recent years. Despite the growing number of organic dairy operations, the characteristics of organic dairy operations and the relative costs of organic and conventional milk production have been difficult to analyze. This study, using 2005 ARMS data for U.S. dairy operations, which include a targeted sample of organic milk producers, examines the structure, costs, and challenges of organic milk production. The analysis addresses economies of size, regional differences, and pasture use in organic milk production and compares organic and conventional milk production costs. The findings suggest that economic forces have made organic operations more like conventional operations and that the future structure of the industry may depend on the interpretation and implementation of new organic pasture rules.
Organic milk production has been one of the fastest growing segments of organic agriculture in the United States in recent years. Despite the growing number of organic dairy operations, the characteristics of organic dairy operations and the relative costs of organic and conventional milk production have been difficult to analyze. This study, using 2005 ARMS data for U.S. dairy operations, which include a targeted sample of organic milk producers, examines the structure, costs, and challenges of organic milk production. The analysis addresses economies of size, regional differences, and pasture use in organic milk production and compares organic and conventional milk production costs. The findings suggest that economic forces have made organic operations more like conventional operations and that the future structure of the industry may depend on the interpretation and implementation of new organic pasture rules.
Grazing management might seem simple: just put livestock in a pasture and let them eat their fill. However, as Sarah Flack explains in The Art and Science of Grazing, the pasture/livestock relationship is incredibly complex. If a farmer doesn't pay close attention to how the animals are grazing, the resulting poorly managed grazing system can be harmful to the health of the livestock, pasture plants, and soils. Well-managed pastures can instead create healthier animals, a diverse and resilient pasture ecosystem, and other benefits. Flack delves deeply below the surface of "let the cows eat grass," demonstrating that grazing management is a sophisticated science that requires mastery of plant and animal physiology, animal behavior, and ecology. She also shows readers that applying grazing management science on a working farm is an art form that calls on grass farmers to be careful observers, excellent planners and record-keepers, skillful interpreters of their observations, and creative troubleshooters. The Art and Science of Grazing will allow farmers to gain a solid understanding of the key principles of grazing management so they can both design and manage successful grazing systems. The book's unique approach presents information first from the perspective of pasture plants, and then from the livestock perspective--helping farmers understand both plant and animal needs before setting up a grazing system. This book is an essential guide for ruminant farmers who want to be able to create grazing systems that meet the needs of their livestock, pasture plants, soils, and the larger ecosystem. The book discusses all the practical details that are critical for sustained success: how to set up a new system or improve existing systems; acreage calculations; paddock layout; fence and drinking water access; lanes and other grazing infrastructure; managing livestock movement and flow; soil fertility; seeding and reseeding pastures; and more. The author includes descriptions of real grazing systems working well on dairy, beef, goat, and sheep farms in different regions of North America. The book covers pasture requirements specific to organic farming, but will be of use to both organic and non-organic farms.