Eco-Journal, v.17.1, January/February 2007
By Sue Black, Manitoba Organic Milk Marketing Co-op
The Manitoba Organic Milk Marketing Co-op (MOM´s) is a new group in Manitoba. We are a small group of existing milk producers who are moving towards the production of organic milk. Starting in December 2005, a series of meetings were initiated by Chris McCarville s (co-op developer), and Andrea Ramlogan, Ontarbio Organic Farmers´ Co-op (member relations manager). A core group of producers evolved out of these meetings.
Progress has been made towards making locally produced organic dairy products in Manitoba. MOM´s first farm to start the one-year transition to organic, in November 2006, is the Black Family Farm of Deloraine. Larry and Sue Black run a fifty-cow dairy with their son, Dave, and his girlfriend Ashley Holm. The Blacks have never used chemicals on their fourth generation farmland, but will accomplish a 25-year goal by becoming organic in the dairy, as well. Three other Manitoba dairy farms are poised to begin their organic transition in 2007.
Until there are a few producers on stream, the first organic milk will likely be processed for industrial products. To guarantee security of supply, a minimum number of producers must be pooling their milk before local fluid milk is processed here. Don´t look for MOM´s-produced fluid milk products to be on the store shelves before fall of 2008.
This project seems to capture everyone´s support. We have had help from the Manitoba Government, the Organic Producers Association of Manitoba, and the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. With their help, MOM´s hosted a very successful workshop in Winnipeg, “Organic Dairy Farming Opportunities in Manitoba’ on November 29 and 30, 2006. There were presentations on an overview of organic systems, a farmer´s transition experience, market opportunities with OntarBio, and keynote speaker Dr. Paul Dettloff, DVM.
MOM´s members have been getting to know each other, and investigating the market and the diverse systems of organic milk production in other parts of the country. Our goal is to envision the best possible organic milk system, and create a long-term, farmer-controlled industry in Manitoba. We are excited about this opportunity, and grateful for the support from our community.