There is no simple recipe for setting up and managing a successful organic dairy farm, but this handbook can act as an introduction to important issues in organic dairy production and provide today's organic or transitioning dairy farmer with an overview of the tools and ideas available. Part of the NOFA guides. Organic Dairy Production includes information on: Soils, the foundation of health (manure management) Crop production and grazing management (forage species, pasture management, setting up a grazing system) Livestock (selection, nutrition, winter and summer feed considerations, seasonal milking, habitat, herd health, milk quality) Marketing (selling fluid milk, regulations, facility and equipment, selling raw milk) Recordkeeping The transition to organic Features examples from various farms in the Northeast.

Written for the transitioning and new organic farmer, Organic Dairy Farming brings together for the first time in a single volume the information to explain everything from organic soil management, calf care and mastitis control to the certification process and marketing for the organic premium. Combining up-to-date advice from 20 experts in a variety of fields, it presents organic concepts and practices in a readable form. The book includes farmer interviews demonstrating how they have successfully applied organic practices on their own farms. Over sixty illustrations, glossary, list of resources and complete index make the book very useable. An essential tool for both the farmer and the agricultural professional.

A series of eight guides originally published by NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) on organic principles and practices for both the beginner farmer as well as established farmers looking to convert to organic or deepen their practices. Each book is approximately 100 pages, but the information is weighty; the guides use a strong whole-systems farming theory behind their practical advice, as well as offer historical information, further resources, detailed appendices, and profiles of various organic farms across the Northeast. Titles include: Organic Weed and Soil Fertility Management by Steve Gilman (approx 104 pp) Soil Resiliency and Health: Crop Rotation and Cover Cropping on the Organic Farm by Seth Kroeck (96 pp) Compost, Vermicompost, and Compost Tea by Grace Gershuny (96 pp) Vegetable Crop Health: Helping Nature Control Diseases and Pests Organically by Brian Caldwell (96 pp) Organic Dairy Production by Sarah Flack (96) The Wisdom of Plant Heritage: Organic Seed Production and Saving by Bryan Connolly (112 pp) Whole Farm Planning: Ecological Imperatives, Personal Values, and Economics by Elizabeth Henderson and Karl North (96 pp) Humane and Healthy Poultry Production: A Manual for Organic Growers by Karma Glos (104 pp)

This collection addresses recent research on challenges facing organic animal farming such as more targeted breeding, improved grazing and feed rations, better methods of health and disease management as well as ways of enhancing animal welfare.

Organic cattle farming is on the increase, with consumer demand for organic milk and meat growing yearly. Beginning with an overview of the aims and principles behind organic cattle production, this book presents extensive information about how to feed cattle so that the milk and meat produced meet organic standards, and provides a comprehensive summary of ruminant digestive processes and nutrition. Since the publication of the first edition, global consumers have increasingly become concerned with the sustainability of meat production. Here, Robert Blair considers the interrelationships of sustainable practices and profitability of organic herds, reviewing how to improve forage production and quality, and minimizing the need for supplementary feeding using off-farm ingredients.

Milk and Dairy Foods: Their Functionality in Human Health and Disease addresses issues at key life stages, presenting updates on the impact of dairy on cardiometabolic health, hemodynamics, cardiovascular health, glycemic control, body weight, bone development, muscle mass and cancer. The book also explores the impact of dairy fats on health, dairy fat composition, trans-fatty acids in dairy products, the impact of organic milk on health, milk and dairy intolerances, and dairy as a source of dietary iodine. Written for food and nutrition researchers, academic teachers, and health professionals, including clinicians and dietitians, this book is sure to be a welcomed resource for all who wish to understand more about the role of dairy in health. Addresses the functional effects of dairy related to reducing the risk of key chronic diseases Contains information related to various life stages, including chapters on dairy foods and bone development in the young and dairy foods and maintenance of muscle mass in the elderly

Grazing management might seem simple: just put livestock in a pasture and let them eat their fill. However, as Sarah Flack explains in The Art and Science of Grazing, the pasture/livestock relationship is incredibly complex. If a farmer doesn't pay close attention to how the animals are grazing, the resulting poorly managed grazing system can be harmful to the health of the livestock, pasture plants, and soils. Well-managed pastures can instead create healthier animals, a diverse and resilient pasture ecosystem, and other benefits. Flack delves deeply below the surface of "let the cows eat grass," demonstrating that grazing management is a sophisticated science that requires mastery of plant and animal physiology, animal behavior, and ecology. She also shows readers that applying grazing management science on a working farm is an art form that calls on grass farmers to be careful observers, excellent planners and record-keepers, skillful interpreters of their observations, and creative troubleshooters. The Art and Science of Grazing will allow farmers to gain a solid understanding of the key principles of grazing management so they can both design and manage successful grazing systems. The book's unique approach presents information first from the perspective of pasture plants, and then from the livestock perspective--helping farmers understand both plant and animal needs before setting up a grazing system. This book is an essential guide for ruminant farmers who want to be able to create grazing systems that meet the needs of their livestock, pasture plants, soils, and the larger ecosystem. The book discusses all the practical details that are critical for sustained success: how to set up a new system or improve existing systems; acreage calculations; paddock layout; fence and drinking water access; lanes and other grazing infrastructure; managing livestock movement and flow; soil fertility; seeding and reseeding pastures; and more. The author includes descriptions of real grazing systems working well on dairy, beef, goat, and sheep farms in different regions of North America. The book covers pasture requirements specific to organic farming, but will be of use to both organic and non-organic farms.

Caldwell offers readers a balanced perspective on the current regulatory environment in which raw-milk lovers find themselves. Keepers of cows, goats, or sheep will benefit from information on designing a well-functioning small dairy, choosing equipment, and understanding myriad processes, including details about the business of making milk; managing the farm to create superior milk; understanding the microbiology of milk; and risk-reduction plans to have in place prior to selling raw milk.