Sue McGovern’s Recent Comments

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  Submitted on behalf of Jon Bansen, Organic Valley

  The following remarks were originally posted on O'Dairy (March 10) in response to NODPA's communications with Stonyfield Farm.

  Yes there is a need for a rise in the price of milk to help keep pace with input costs. No it will not be the $6 being called for. Yes there will be some dairies go out of business, there always has been. No a majority of organic
  producers are not cashing in their IRAs to pay the bills. That is just a sound bite.

  We need the processors to sell our milk and don't need to make enemies out of them. I understand how to take care of cows and grow grass, these guys understand how to package and distribute milk products. Sometimes we should listen to their point of view on the market place and what it can bear. We do need to keep watch and keep them honest but should do it in a respectful way.

  We can not afford to loose our customers of organic milk at a time when allconsumer goods are rising rapidly. These folks need to buy gas but have a choice on whether or not to buy organic, conventional, or nothing at all. I tend to trust my co-op to understand the marketing issues better than myself.

  Now is the time for all organic dairymen and women to focus on this changing feed and fuel environment to best adapt their farms. We can expect a little help from the marketplace but cannot count on the marketplace coming to the
  rescue of our changing paradigm.

  Jon Bansen
  Organic Valley dairy farmer
  Monmouth, Oregon
  On Dairy producers' alliance responds to Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farm posted 1 year, 8 months ago 1 Response