State's organic dairies competitive

Thanks for publishing the intriguing survey of the comparative production, costs and income of conventional and organic dairy farms (September-October 2002, p. 157-162). This sort of careful, data-rich empirical analysis of organic versus conventional production systems is sorely needed to provide deeper insight into the strengths and weaknesses of alternative production systems. Such insights are key in improving the environmental performance and economic viability of both conventional and organic farms.

In reviewing the findings, I was struck by how well the state's forage-based organic dairies were performing in terms of production and economic returns. Organic dairies received a 27% premium for their milk and netted $1.77 per hundredweight, compared to $0.77 on comparable conventional farms. A careful review of differential costs, however, leads to an even more striking result — most of the higher costs facing the organic producers are largely matters of economic scale and reflect the fact that the organic dairy industry was very modest in 1999. Marketing costs were almost three times higher per hundredweight of milk. Few new, organically acceptable drugs were available. The supply of acceptable replacement heifers was modest and costly. As the scale of the industry grows, these cost differentials and disadvantages facing organic producers will surely diminish. If just marketing costs had been equal in this study, the net return per hundredweight on organic dairies would have been four times the net return on conventional farms.

Other key, higher cost items on organic farms will also gradually fall relative to conventional farms. For example, the 34% premium paid for concentrates will fall over time, probably by close to half. Herd health, land use and environmental advantages are also likely to translate into lower costs for drugs and compliance with environmental and food safety regulations on organic farms. The results of this research suggest that forage-based dairies in California's northern and coastal valleys will compete successfully with conventional dry-lot, confinement operations in the valleys. Given recent growth in the industry, an updated survey would be of great interest in tracking scale-driven changes in production, costs and income.

Chuck Benbrook

Benbrook Consulting Services Sandpoint, Idaho

The article's author, UC Davis Marketing Economist Leslie Butler, responds:

You are absolutely correct in pointing out that as the relative size of the organic dairy industry increases, many of the cost differentials are likely to diminish. Even since we carried out the survey — which reported 1999 cost of production figures — the number of organic dairy producers in California has increased, as has organic milk production and the supply of organic feed. However, as organic milk production increases, competition with conventional milk production will also increase, and the price differential is likely to diminish. This could come about either as price increases for conventional milk due to diminishing supply, or as price decreases for organic milk due to increases in supply relative to the demand for organic milk. Since the supply of organic feed (relative to conventional feed) and other inputs is dependent, to some extent, on organic milk producers continuing to find it profitable to produce organic milk, the dynamics between organic milk production and the supply and cost of inputs is still quite delicate. The biggest factor on the side of the organic dairy producer in California, as you point out, is the successful substitution of pasture as the main feed.

Traditional forage-based systems in California have been successfully competing with the larger dry-lot operations since the establishment of dairying in California, and the systems have been enhanced over the years by new irrigation technologies and innovative rotational grazing systems. At the same time, recent decreases in the prices of concentrate feeds relative to alfalfa and other hay prices, and the production incentives provided for feed crops by the 2002 Farm Bill, are likely to favor increased concentrate feeding by conventional dairy producers for some time, and are likely to keep them competitive with forage-based organic producers for the next few years.

Given the uncertainties facing the ability of organic milk production to maintain competition with conventional milk production, the fortunes of organic producers rely heavily on the continued and increased demand for organic milk. The current trends, while positive for organic milk demand, bear watching closely. We will be updating our cost of organic milk production survey in California early next year.

Better-tasting beef?

Regarding your articles on the California cattle industry and grass-fed beef (September-October 2002, p. 151, 152), I can offer a new analysis of why beef consumption has dropped. Today I went to Basha's for the last buffalo on sale and it was gone. I told the butcher how good it was and he asked me if I had tried elk. He told me that elk tastes like beef used to taste 20 years ago. There you go. The taste of beef has changed and this may explain why many people have stopped eating it. A lot of people can taste the difference, so they switch to other meats. California should go back to range-fed stock to help the industry. The word will get around that California meat tastes better than other meat. It does not necessarily have to be organic. You should do significant research to ask which feed gives the best consumer taste.

Nick Terebey

Phoenix, Ariz.

Cal Ag a “big eye-opener”

Thank you for the arrival of your magazine! This is one of the most interesting ones that I receive. My concerns and interests revolve around the availability of clean air, water, nutritious food and beautiful landscapes. I am very interested in helping people to better understand how we humans use land. I have some great ideas, and your magazine is a big eye-opener and clarifies many of my ponderings.

Mary Ann Griese

Mountain View

Greetings from the South

I want to compliment you on what a fine job you are doing. As a UC Davis grad, I really miss the state and its agriculture scene. Every time I read your magazine, I get homesick for Northern California.

Richard Mason

Baton Rouge, La.