Date: 11/21/11-6/29/12
Travel With Pam & Holiday Vacations
Date: 5/26/12-7/1/12
June Dairy Breakfast Schedule
Date: 5/26/12
Green Co. Dairy Breakfast
Date: 6/2/12
Rock Co Breakfast on the Farm
Farm Events: |
Farm News: Organic Valley Issues Bonus CheckcommentsPosted: 03.15.2011 Even organic dairy producers witnessed roller-coaster prices over the past two years, but Organic Vallley Coop in LaFarge, is hoping that's over. Organic Valley has announced they're distributing a bonus 13th check—traditionally, a cash distribution paid out when annual profits exceed sales goals—to its farmer-owners.
George Siemon, C-E-I-E-I-O and founding farmer of Organic Valley said it's taken planning - and a conservative approach. The annual sales growth goal set by the Board of Directors for 2010 was 2.38 percent of sales. Once that goal was met, the Board authorized a total payment of $5,345,000 to the membership, which is currently being distributed to farmers-owners across 35 states.
Organic Valley had implemented their own supply management plan in 2009. At that time, in lieu of cutting their pay prices, Organic Valley dairy farmer-owners collectively decided to require all dairy members to reduce their organic milk supply by seven percent beginning July 2009. It was painful - but it worked.
In August 2010, Organic Valley lifted its supply quota to allow its farmer-owners to grow from 93% to 100% of their active base.
Organic Valley says their management strategy has not only allowed them to regain their sales volume goals - but add more growers too. Just last month, Organic Valley brought on 53 organic farmers from Lancaster County Organic Farmers Cooperative (LOFCO) to join the cooperative. In 2008, the cooperative experienced 22% growth, while in 2009, sales remained flat. As a result of strategic supply management, Organic Valley enjoyed growth at $619 million in 2010, 18% growth from 2009.
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