Organic milk is the top selling organic commodity, bringing in over $1.6 billion in sales in 2021. However, investments in infrastructure at the farm, state, and regional level are desperately needed to sustain organic family dairy farms and reflect their contributions to our rural communities, to fight environmental degradation, and to maintain a local supply of high quality, organic milk.

Since the solutions to difficulties faced by organic dairy farmers vary from region to region,  OFA has worked since 2022 to convene and facilitate regular calls with organic dairy farmers and supporting groups from around the country.

The work of these farmers and advocates has resulted in the introduction of two important pieces of legislation that we hope to see included in the next Farm Bill.

The Organic Dairy Data Collection Act, sponsored by Representatives Pingree (D-ME), Wied (R-WI), and Langworthy (R-NY), aims to improve data collection and reporting on organic milk production costs, prices, and feedstuffs.

The Senate “Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act (O DAIRY) Act,” includes the provisions in the House data collection bill, and also proposes to expand emergency assistance to organic dairy farmers, invest $25 million annually in dairy infrastructure and research, and direct the USDA to study the viability of an organic safety net program.