12.12.2007 - 04:30pm ET

(CSRwire) LA FARGE, WI – December 12, 2007 – Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, America's largest cooperative of organic farmers, in recent months has strengthened its "CROPP Cooperative Feed Program" to ensure a long-term, stable source of organic feed for its 1,183 farmer members.

Through the CROPP Cooperative Feed Program, Organic Valley works to secure for its members thousands of tons of organic hay, grains and beans from producers with whom it contracts in the United States and Canada. Nearly one-third of CROPP member farmers have purchased feed from the program since the cooperative stepped up this initiative six months ago.

Organic farmers traditionally dedicate substantial portions of their farm to producing their own organic livestock feed, but on occasion must complement the supply through partnerships with neighboring farms or purchases on the open marketplace.

"Supplies of organic feed are currently tight, and prices have dramatically increased," said Lowell Rheinheimer, farm resources manager for Organic Valley. "We created the CROPP Cooperative Feed Program to help our farmers save time and resources in ensuring they have access to and can easily secure an adequate supply for their farms at a reasonable price."

"The feed supply is the most critical issue facing organic livestock farmers right now," said George Siemon, chief executive officer of Organic Valley. "As we look to the future, we feel that the addition of this program is one of the most important benefits we can offer to our members."

"Last year, I thought I was going to run short on hay, so I purchased from a private source and wasn’t pleased," said Ernest Martin, a Shiloh, Ohio, Organic Valley dairy farmer with 70 cows. "This past spring, we had a hard, late freeze that took out half my hay. I saw the prices going up, and I knew it was going to be tough to get good hay, but CROPP made the calls and helped me secure high quality hay at a fair price that was a win-win for the feed provider and me."

Organic Valley Family of Farms: Independent and Farmer-Owned

Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,183 farmers in 32 states and one Canadian province, and achieved $334 million in 2006 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces more than 200 organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie Family of Farms label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.com and the cooperative's farmers' website, www.farmers.coop.

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