11
Aug
Legislation Introduced To Support Organic Dairy and A Call for Public Support
(Beyond Pesticides, August 11, 2025)Â With the reintroduction of legislation in July to support organic dairy production, Beyond Pesticides is calling on the public to support small organic farms that are hurting because of feed shortages, increased costs, and low premium to farmers, despite higher prices at the grocery store. Beyond Pesticides has called for an investment in organic as a long-term investment in the public good, given the value that organic brings as a solution to the health, biodiversity, and climate crises. (See previous Daily News, here and here.)
Legislation, the Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act (O DAIRY Act), S. 2442, introduced by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, along with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) will expand federal support for organic dairy farmers by extending emergency assistance to farmers facing losses due to factors like feed shortages and increased costs. The Senators’ legislation also increases investments in the organic dairy industry to ensure resiliency and longevity and works to improve data collection for organic milk production to enhance price accuracy and transparency. Beyond Pesticides is suggesting that the public Tell U.S. Senators to cosponsor the O DAIRY Act, S. 2442.Â
Analysts point to the growing market for organic milk, driven by consumer demand, as supported by clinical studies, for hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and non-GMO products, as well as environmentally friendly production methods. Organic milk also provides more omega-3 fatty acids, disease-fighting antioxidants, and essential minerals than non-organic milk. Â
In spite of the rising demand for organic milk, organic dairies—particularly the smaller dairies—are not prospering. Small producers have little bargaining power with buyers. In addition, organic dairies have costly overhead, including providing consistent pasture, which is expensive in today’s booming land markets. Organic dairies must maintain production and herd health without resorting to antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals. As a result, according to Matthew Dillon, co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association, the U.S. has lost 13% of organic dairy producers since 2021.Â
The O DAIRY Act will extend emergency assistance to organic dairy farmers facing losses, including any time a farm’s net income decreases by over 10% in any given year, and invest $25 million annually in dairy infrastructure investments, research, and innovation. The legislation also calls for increased organic industry data collection that will be shared with farmers for better planning. Additionally, the bill would direct USDA to study the viability of an organic safety net program, which would provide aid to farmers faster when disasters hit. Â
The O DAIRY Act has the broad support of farms, dairy cooperatives, producers, and associations across the country.Â
Readers can Tell your U.S. Senators to cosponsor the O DAIRY Act, S. 2442.Â
Letter to U.S. Senators [Request to cosponsor]:
Analysts point to the growing market for organic milk, driven by consumer demand, as supported by clinical studies, for hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and non-GMO products, as well as environmentally friendly production methods. Organic milk also provides more omega-3 fatty acids, disease-fighting antioxidants, and essential minerals than non-organic milk.
In spite of the rising demand for organic milk, organic dairies—particularly the smaller dairies—are not prospering. Small producers have little bargaining power with buyers. In addition, organic dairies have costly overhead, including providing consistent pasture, which is expensive in today’s booming land markets. Organic dairies must maintain production and herd health without resorting to antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals. As a result, according to Matthew Dillon, co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association, the U.S. has lost 13% of organic dairy producers since 2021.
In order to address the problems facing organic dairies, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, along with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced the Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act (O DAIRY) Act, S. 2442, legislation to expand federal support for organic dairy farmers by extending emergency assistance to farmers facing losses due to factors like feed shortages and increased costs. The Senators’ legislation also increases investments in the organic dairy industry to ensure resiliency and longevity and works to improve data collection for organic milk production to enhance price accuracy and transparency.  
The O DAIRY Act will extend emergency assistance to organic dairy farmers facing losses, including any time a farm’s net income decreases by over 10% in any given year, and invest $25 million annually in dairy infrastructure investments, research, and innovation. The legislation also calls for increased organic industry data collection that will be shared with farmers for better planning. Additionally, the bill would direct USDA to study the viability of an organic safety net program, which would provide aid to farmers faster when disasters hit. 
The O DAIRY Act has the broad support of farms, dairy cooperatives, producers, and associations across the country. I hope I can count on you to cosponsor S. 2442 and support organic dairy farmers.
Thank you!
Letter to U.S. Senators [Thank you to sponsors]:
Analysts point to the growing market for organic milk, driven by consumer demand, as supported by clinical studies, for hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and non-GMO products, as well as environmentally friendly production methods. Organic milk also provides more omega-3 fatty acids, disease-fighting antioxidants, and essential minerals than non-organic milk.
In spite of the rising demand for organic milk, organic dairies—particularly the smaller dairies—are not prospering. Small producers have little bargaining power with buyers. In addition, organic dairies have costly overhead, including providing consistent pasture, which is expensive in today’s booming land markets. Organic dairies must maintain production and herd health without resorting to antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals. As a result, according to Matthew Dillon, co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association, the U.S. has lost 13% of organic dairy producers since 2021.
In order to address the problems facing organic dairies, I appreciate your leadership in reintroducing the Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act (O DAIRY) Act, S. 2442, legislation to expand federal support for organic dairy farmers by extending emergency assistance to farmers facing losses due to factors like feed shortages and increased costs. This legislation also increases investments in the organic dairy industry to ensure resiliency and longevity and works to improve data collection for organic milk production to enhance price accuracy and transparency.  
The O DAIRY Act will extend emergency assistance to organic dairy farmers facing losses, including any time a farm’s net income decreases by over 10% in any given year, and invest $25 million annually in dairy infrastructure investments, research, and innovation. The legislation also calls for increased organic industry data collection that will be shared with farmers for better planning. Additionally, the bill would direct USDA to study the viability of an organic safety net program, which would provide aid to farmers faster when disasters hit. 
The O DAIRY Act has the broad support of farms, dairy cooperatives, producers, and associations across the country. Thank you once again for your leadership in support of organic dairy farmers.
Thank you!
All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.
