Completed Project Report


Transitioning to Organic Dairy in the Upper Midwest

  • Award Amount: $35,000
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2006 Value Added Enterprises/Farm Diversification Grants

Extension RME Regional Centers
Extension Risk Management Education Region Map

Project Overview

The project helped producers manage risk through the disciplined evaluation of organic dairying as a business diversification strategy for five distinct groups of producers in IA and MN. The project engaged the skills of three partnering organizations (Iowa Institute of Cooperatives, Cooperative Development Services, and Land Stewardship Project) and several collaborators to provide unbiased market and production information, refine existing financial planning tools, and deliver financial planning assistance.

As a result, participants determined if organic dairying is an appropriate option for in-depth study, and 15 producers used FINPACK to evaluate the potential to successfully enter organic dairying.

Following completion, at least five producers sought organic certification, or participated in other training programs; five development specialists have requested the clustered development toolkit; 50 additional individuals have used the modified FINPACK to assess organic dairy production.

Number of Participants: 120

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

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