Organic dairy at UNH adds calves and cash to coffers
US - The University of New Hampshire's Organic Research Dairy celebrated several milestones yesterday, not the least of which was raising $1.2 million toward a goal of $1.8 million in private funding."We have made a commitment to the organic dairy community, including first and foremost, farmers, but also producers, retailers and citizens," UNH interim-President J. Bonnie Newman said. "Our commitment will help to fill the void in urgently needed science based research on organic production."
The organic dairy also celebrated the births of dozens of calves, along with those waiting to be born. The dairy is expected to birth 46 calves by March, allowing for the milking of 46 cows or about half the 80 necessary for full production.
Naming rights to the first calf to be born sold for $1,275 on eBay last month. The winning bidders, Stonyfield CEO Hirshenberg, his wife Meg and sister Nancy, named the calf Charley.
Once operational, the dairy is expected to be fully self sustaining with the Jersey heifers producing about 40 pounds of organic milk each day.
Officials said yesterday that organic farming offers a bright future and more profitable niche market for many family-owned and small dairies that have struggled to keep up with traditional chemical induced farming methods and price fluctuations.
Many small farms have shut down in New Hampshire over the past few decades, unable to compete with larger operations, Londonderry-based Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirshenberg said.
Source: Union Leader.com