Claremont's John Haynes Family Farm First Organic Farm to Receive Honor in State
The Haynes Dairy in Claremont—a member of the Organic Valley cooperative of farmers—has been named New Hampshire's Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year for 2007 by the Green Pastures Program. The award, which annually names one winner from each of the six New England states, evaluates farms on their achievement in business management, crop production, pasture quality, herd performance, environmental practices, and community leadership.
Certified as an organic dairy last May, the Haynes Farm represents the first organic dairy farm in New Hampshire to win this distinction. This year's judges cited the many farm innovations, clean cows and barn, quality pasture, and the overall dairy operation as the reasons for the Haynes' Farm win. Organic Valley is the nation's largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the largest organic dairy brands in the nation.
Milk gathered in the Northeast for Organic Valley is sold under the Organic Valley New England Pastures label. Haynes Dairy Farm has been a grass-based dairy operation since John Haynes' parents, David and Nellie, purchased it in 1961. John, who worked alongside his parents, took ownership with his wife, Beth, in 1993. It remains a grass-based dairy using grasses and legumes for the majority of its feed for its 98-head herd, from which 62 Holsteins are milked. Organic grain and minerals, including kelp meal, are used as supplements to this feed.
The New England Green Pastures Program began in 1948 after World War II by regional farm leaders worried that a post-war depression would hurt agriculture. They believed that if ways were found to help the region's dairymen respond to new research and adopt technologies, that they would remain cost-competitive and less vulnerable to economic downturns.
In recent years, the New England Green Pastures program has evolved from one of promoting pastures and forage management to its present objective of honoring an outstanding dairy family from each of the New England States for total management (both production and financial) of the operating farm and considering the farm family's contribution to the agricultural community.
Green Pastures will honor Haynes and other statewide winners September 14th at the Eastern States Exposition banquet in Springfield, MA.
"For us the transition to organic dairying started years ago as we improved our grazing methods, visited other farms and became interested in organic practices," said John Haynes. "Organic dairying became a very viable option for us and has enabled us to be a part of a family of small farms. We are very grateful for all the people that have helped us along the way and have become part of our 'family,'" says his wife, Beth.
"We're delighted that New England Green Pastures has for the first time selected an organic dairy for its annual New Hampshire award, and we're even more thrilled that it's one of the 1,100 members of our family farms," said George Siemon, chief executive officer of Organic Valley Family of Farms. "As an organic farmer who is a member of a co-operative, not only is Haynes providing nutritious dairy products for his region, his farm's revenues directly impact his community and state. That's a big difference from corporate farms, where profits are most often taken out of the community."
About the Haynes Farm
In 2006, the Haynes farm had a yearly rolling herd average of 18,000 lbs. with good herd averages for fat (709 lbs.) and protein (539 lbs.) components. John and Beth have set up fencing and move their cows every 12 hours to prevent grasses from being over-grazed and to provide enough high-quality feed to maintain good milk production. Watering systems in each paddock provide easy access for cows and eliminate need for travel back to the barn. Pasture health is maintained through grazing and the use of manure and wood ash as fertilizers.
Innovative farm methods and technologies including a round-the-barn track feeder, gutter cleaners, a new ventilation system and a training paddock where calves are taught to stay away from the electric fence, help the Haynes farm to stay productive and profitable and to adapt to changing markets, regulations, and technologies. This farm also recently won an award for low somatic cell counts, a measurement for good herd health.
Organic Valley Family of Farms: Independent and Farmer-Owned
Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,100 farmers in 29 states and one Canadian province, and achieved $334 million in 2006 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces more than 200 organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie Family of Farms label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.com and the cooperative's farmers' website, www.farmers.coop.
