Growth in organic dairies tests supply of feed - Farmers' challenge: Feeding these cows organically

[helderheid]

YAKIMA, Wash. - It comes as no surprise to anyone that the number of organic farms is booming to meet consumer demand for healthy food. In Washington, a state known more for its apples than any other crop, there are 45 organic dairies. Five years ago, there were just two.

The challenge has been feeding all of those cows.

Acreage of organic forage, such as hay and alfalfa, has grown 40 percent in the past two years, yet isn’t keeping pace with demand. In particular, high-protein crops like soybeans that are necessary feed for dairy cows are in short supply in some regions, forcing some companies to import them from as far away as China.

Given the recent problems with food and ingredient imports from China, in which a slew of products have been turned away by U.S. inspectors amid claims they are tainted, one might wonder if organic feed is actually organic.

“That’s a legitimate concern. We do have organic standards, which apply even to producers overseas if they want certification,” said Bill Freese, the Center for Food Safety’s science policy analyst in Washington D.C. “But I think the oversight of organic standards to be sure there’s compliance is generally better in the United States than overseas.”

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113101/

[youngdem]

1. Their solution has been to change the definition of 'organic' and lying

I bet they do some more of that.

The world is VERY quickly reaching its carrying capacity.

We should all think very hard before having more than two children.

[kestrel91316]

2. I thought long and hard before having ANY. And do not regret my

decision to have none. I'm satisfied to be an aunt twice.