Rules have been finally been clarified for organic milk farmers and their green, grassy pastures. Since 2000, the Organic Consumers Association has been battling for clearer guidelines – and they’ve finally been made.
After a five-year drawn out consultation process, and over 26,000 comments and sources of input from farmers, retailers and trade associations, the new information is set to play.
For the last ten years, all organic dairy farms must not use any antibiotics or hormones, and stick to organic feed. The new rules add that all dairy cows must graze during the grazing season for at least 120 days. This rule in the past was vague — the cows needed only access to pasture, but did not have to make use of it.
Because of these vague guidelines, smaller farmers and corporate operations often were at opposite ends. Aurora Organic – Costco’s private label – for example, ) lacked this grass feeding, regardless of surpassing the other organic standards. Clearly not their fault, due to the gray area of the requirements.
In fact, it is mostly just the larger corporate operators that need to adjust their grazing standards.
So what does this mean for us? The clearer guidelines mean health benefits, too. A 2008 study by Newcastle University in the UK, published in the Journal of Science of Food and Agriculture found that organic grazing cows ended up producing milk that contained a higher amount fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins compared to grass-fed/indoor cows.
Cows naturally have a behavit oural instinct to graze, keeping them stress free and able to produce without the aid of hormones or antibiotics.
Image courtesy of eorganic.info
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