Organic dairying

Lessons from our experience at the University of Minnesota's West Central Research and Outreach Center.

Feeding dairy steers on pasture, grain or no-grain?

With the extreme drought conditions in the Upper Midwest during 2012, many dairy producers continue to be worried about high grain and hay prices. Therefore, producers are reducing the amount of grain fed to cattle to reduce feed costs and maintain profitability.
Fly management for organic dairies

Along with the wonderful grazing weather and hot summer, come flies! One issue that is consistent among the farmers that I talk to is control of flies under organic conditions.
Profitability of organic dairy farming

Profitability of organic dairying, research effort investigating the economics of transitioning to organic dairy production.
Somatic Cell Count Challenges for WCROC Organic Dairy Farm

Organic dairies treat mastitis using a veariety of organic medications, such as garlic or aloe. They also need to identify subclinical infections, culture cows, practice milking hygiene and develop culling guidelines.
Reducing grain inputs improves profit for organic dairy

Organic dairy producers may reduce the amount of grain supplemented to lactating cows and lower their cost of production without reducing milk production.
New leadership and research initiatives at WCROC

Bradley Heins shares an update on where organic research at the WCROC is headed
Health of dairy cows managed organically

Addressing concerns that restrictions on antibiotics may have a negative health impact.

Organic ecology

U of M research: agriculture alternatives and the science of organic systems.
Is organic dairying for me?

Fewer problems managing the herd compared to managing soils and weeds on organic acres.
Organic dairy research and outreach at WCROC

Organic is a production system, not a product. U of M herd transitions for research, teaching.
Minnesota guide to organic certification

How to participate in the organic market. How to develop a certifiable organic production system.
Companion crops for organic alfalfa establishment

Suppress weeds, reduce erosion, and insure crop yield, but can also reduce alfalfa establishment. (28 K PDF)

National Organic Program – United States Department of Agriculture
Introduction to organic farming (1.3 MB PDF) – United States Department of Agriculture
Organic production and certification – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Considering organic dairy? Resources for Minnesota (216 K PDF) – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Organic farm performance in Minnesota (847 K PDF) – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Organic feed and grain price reports – United States Department of Agriculture
Feeding herds certified for organic milk production (39 K PDF) – The Ohio State University
Organic dairy budget (XLS) – Iowa State University
Organic agriculture in Wisconsin – University of Wisconsin
Summary of economics studies of organic dairy farming (94 K PDF) – University of Wisconsin
Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service
Organic livestock feed processing basics (460 K PDF) – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Organic dairy farms in Wisconsin: prosperous, modern, and expansive (361 K PDF) – University of Wisconsin

Extension