The report examines the growth of organic milk production in the U.S. over the past two decades, driven by rising consumer demand and the establishment of USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP). Key findings include:
– NOP regulations have evolved, focusing on transitioning dairy cows from conventional to organic and forage requirements.
– Organic dairy production has increased, with shifts in state rankings.
– Surveys from 2005 to 2021 indicate organic farms are generally profitable, with larger farms producing more milk per cow, adopting advanced technologies, and experiencing lower costs.
– Organic farms receive higher milk prices but face higher feed costs compared to conventional farms.
– Regional differences exist, with Western organic farms adopting more advanced practices and Northeastern farms incurring higher feed costs.
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