FOLLOWING NEWS THAT HORIZON ORGANIC WILL LEAVE ALMOST 100 FARMS IN THE NORTHEAST, SCHUMER LAUNCHES PUSH TO CLOSE LOOPHOLES IN ALL-OUT EFFORT TO SAVE NEW YORK’S ORGANIC DAIRY FARMS; SCHUMER CALLS ON USDA SECRETARY VILSACK TO PROVIDE NY’S ORGANIC DAIRY FARMERS WITH MUCH NEEDED CHEDDAR

In August 2022, Horizon Organic Is Set To End Contracts With Small And Mid-Sized Organic Dairy Farmers Across New York

Senator Urges USDA To Close Loopholes And Provide Long-Overdue Protection For Organic Dairy Industry And Livelihoods Of Farmers

Schumer To USDA: Get ‘Moo’-ving To Protect Our Upstate Organic Dairy Farmers

Following news that Horizon Organic, a subsidiary of multinational food conglomerate Danone, plans to terminate contracts in August of 2022 with organic dairy farmers across New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer joined with U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and other Northeastern Senators today to demand U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack move to close organic loopholes, strengthen enforcement, and use every tool available to support small and mid-sized organic dairy farmers ASAP. Schumer said organic dairy farming, especially by family farms in New York, are an important economic engine in the Northeast and serve as community anchors for many rural economies.

“New York’s dairy farmers are the lifeblood of the Upstate economy and after years of being wrung dry by a system that disadvantages them, they’re now at the edge of an economic precipice,” said Senator Schumer. “For an industry that has razor thin margins as it is and saw historic losses during the COVID crisis, for many family-owned organic dairy farms, losing their contracts with Horizon Organics will be the final pull on the rug under them. Secretary Vilsack and the USDA must act immediately to secure the long-term economic viability of our Upstate organic dairy farmers and close loopholes that threaten the entire industry.”

The Origin of Livestock Rule, which was first initiated in 2015, would close a loophole that has allowed large-scale producers in some states to rotate animals in and out of organic management and sell under an organic label. The senator argued that not only does this practice threaten the livelihoods of small- and mid-size organic dairy farmers, but it also undermines consumer confidence in the organic label, leading to an overall negative view of the entire industry. Therefore, Schumer called on USDA to finalize the Origin of Livestock rule, and close the loophole in organic dairy farming.

Schumer also called on USDA to use any and all tools at the agency’s disposal to support the farmers affected by Danone’s decision to terminate contracts and work with stakeholders to expand market channels for their products. This includes expanded support through the USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers program, targeted investments in processing capacity and transportation efficiencies for businesses that can contract with these farmers, as well as temporary price supports to allow these farmers to transition to new markets.

Senator Schumer joined Senators Leahy, Sanders, Welch, King, Hassan, Gillibrand, and Collins, as well as Representatives Pingree, Stefanik, Kuster, Pappas, and Golden in a letter to Secretary Vilsack:

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

We write to you today to request your urgent action to support organic dairy producers in our states that are facing market loss. As you know, Danone, a multinational food company and owner of Horizon Organic, recently notified 89 farmers in Vermont, Maine, New York, and New Hampshire that their milk contracts will be terminated by August 2022, leaving these farmers without buyers and effectively pulling out of New England altogether.

Danone appears to be consolidating their supply to prioritize more concentrated producers for transportation economies and abandoning smaller and more dispersed family farms. We believe this matter further underscores the long overdue need to close existing loopholes in the rules governing how livestock are transitioned to organic and strengthen enforcement of the pasture rule, particularly for large-scale complex dairies.  We ask that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) use whatever funding sources and programs necessary to support organic farmers in our region during this period of market upheaval.

The organic dairy industry is an important economic engine in the Northeast and these farms serve as anchor businesses to many of our local rural economies. For years, however, organic dairy farmers in our region have been put at a significant competitive disadvantage that is now threatening their livelihood and shaking consumer confidence in the organic label.  The Origin of Livestock Rule, which you first initiated in 2015, would close a loophole that has allowed large-scale producers in some states to expand herd sizes quickly through continual transition of conventional animals in and out of organic management.  The USDA’s ongoing delay in finalizing this rule, which continues to enjoy widespread support within the sector, has contributed to the oversupply of organic milk in the market, placed the integrity of the organic label at risk, and kept farmers in our states at a severe financial disadvantage.

After years of inaction by USDA, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, which was signed into law on December 20, 2019, included an explicit congressional directive for USDA to finalize the Origin of Livestock Rule by July 17, 2020, a directive still unmet.  On July 12, 2021, for the third time in over six years, a comment period on the proposed rule closed, and we strongly urge you to now issue a final rule that reflects the thousands of comments received since 2015, meets the intent of the Organic Foods Production Act, and fulfills consumer expectations, as soon as possible.  This action, combined with increased and consistent enforcement of existing organic regulations like the pasture rule, will help restore the level playing field that farmers in our region require.

In addition to restoring and preserving the integrity of the organic seal, we respectfully request that you use any tools at your disposal and work quickly to support the farmers affected by Danone’s decision and work with stakeholders to expand market channels for their products. This includes targeted and increased support through USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers program, targeted investments in processing capacity and transportation efficiencies for businesses that can contract with these farmers, as well as temporary price supports to allow these farmers to transition to new markets.

We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and for your continued support for our dairy farmers.  Working landscapes and family farms are foundational to our region, and a healthy, viable organic dairy market is essential to the economic, environmental, and social fabric of our states.  We look forward to working with you and with key stakeholders to mobilize all available resources to protect the livelihood of these farm families and the future of the organic dairy sector.

Sincerely,

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