2020 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

WODPA’s ability to work throughout the year is based on the Annual Membership Drive.

In 2019, WODPA’s work addressed all the key points in our mission statement and with your help will continue this in 2020. Our mission:  to preserve, protect, and ensure the sustainability and integrity of organic dairy farming across the west…

To Preserve:  As some of the primary founders of the organic industry, dairy producers must continue fighting to preserve the consumer trust we worked so hard to build.  Integrity behind the organic seal began on our farms.  Let’s continue to show our consumers that we uphold the highest of standards.  

To Protect:  Above all, we’re fighting to protect the sustainability of our family farms.  We want organic rules to be applied consistently across organic dairies in order to level the playing field for dairies of all sizes.  By lobbying our legislators and the National Organic Program, we’ve finally seen progress and a deadline for a final rule on the Origin of Livestock.  This is an important step toward applying consistent rules across all organic dairies. Through collaboration with national organic organizations, the voice of WODPA and its producers are being heard and looked to for shaping organic dairy policies.  We continue to lobby on the substances allowed for use in organic, keeping in mind our limited toolbox, yet recognizing those we don’t want based on our cattle knowledge and beliefs. 

To Ensure the Sustainability and Integrity of Organic Dairy Across the West:  We want to ensure our consumers are getting high quality milk, made with the best practices, and can trust the integrity behind the organic seal.  Organic dairies have a special story to tell…  Our story includes showing the sustainable practices used on our farms, how our farms help combat climate change, promote the highest standards in animal welfare and land stewardship, help support our rural communities and continuously improve our practices to better the world around us.  

Thanks to our conference sponsors, WODPA held a successful 2019 Conference and Tradeshow this past November in Reno, Nevada.  In addition to fellowship and networking, we hosted Dr. Jennifer Tucker, Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program, who presented on their work toward bolstering consistency of certifiers and enforcement in the organic industry.  Dr. Tucker was generous enough to attend our entire conference, answering questions from everyone throughout the conference.  We were also joined by the National Organic Coalition and the Organic Trade Association, both of which fought for a final Origin of

Livestock rule. In addition, our attendees heard from a panel, who spanned from across the country to Australia, on pasture surveillance, grass nutrients and data interpretation.  Companies, like yourselves, shared new research and new product innovations throughout the conference and trade show.  

Over the past year, WODPA has increased communications to keep you abreast of organic dairy issues via an E-Newsletter, Social Media and our print Newsletter.  Watch your email for the addition of a WODPA Listserv, giving everyone the chance to share information, classified ads and more.  Your Associate Membership gives you access to all of this information and the ability to highlight and advertise your business throughout the year.  

We will continue our work in 2020 to help ensure the sustainability of our dairies, making the need for WODPA’s independent voice more necessary than ever. WODPA is the ONLY organic dairy association focused on dairies in the Western United States.  Our voice is being heard on a national level because of Associate Members and sponsors like yourself. It is critically important to have WODPA fighting for organic stakeholders, while working dairy families work hard at home to keep their dairies sustainable.  Together as organic stakeholders, we have the power to educate others and vocalize our struggles in this challenging dairy environment.    

With your help, WODPA can do even more. Your financial support is a vote for the work we do.  

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY