Co-op seeks suppliers

The Organic Dairy Co-operative is looking for more dairy farmer suppliers.

Chief executive Patrick Geals said the Taranaki-based co-operative was looking for milk for next year.

"Farmers don't need to already be organic, just willing to give it a go. We provide you with support needed to start organic certification."

The co-operative was a small one that offered premium payouts and on-farm support, he said.

"There are six suppliers in Manawatu at the moment. We are looking for 20 more suppliers from Manawatu, Wanganui, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Waikato," Mr Geals said.

The Organic Dairy Co-operative has 25 suppliers at the moment, of which 19 are fully organic and six are in transition. The milk is trucked to the Okato factory.

"The plant was only commissioned two months ago, and there has been big international demand for organics. For example, the United States has been growing at 20 per cent per annum, and last year was still growing at 12 per cent despite the recession," Mr Geals said.

The company offers on-farm support because the transition from conventional to organic farming, to reach the highest US Department of Agriculture status, takes three years.

"We have experts in organic dairy farming who will help new suppliers through the transition period, and include advice on the certification process, on-farm processes and herd management," Mr Geals said. He said more farmers were realising there was a better way to run their dairy farms and were interested in organics.

"At one time, organic farmers were considered a novelty, but today many conventional farmers are looking over their fences at their organic neighbours and thinking to themselves, `Maybe we should try this'."

He said reasons to go organic included:Farm inputs cost substantially less than on a high-input conventional farm. There is a premium paid for organic milk.

There is a very big improvement in soil and pasture quality.

The cows are healthy, with much lower veterinary costs. Healthy, happy cows make good milk.

Organic farms give consumers what they want – healthy food without added chemicals.Organic dairy farming is sustainable, with farmers able to leave the land in a better state than they found it.

- © Fairfax NZ News