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Contact: Perry Garner, communications director
…528 Billy Sunday Road, Ames, IA 50010

For Immediate Release

OFARM conducts annual meeting at NFO national convention, sets price targets for new year

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (January 20, 2005) — The high demand for certified organic feed grains was a key agenda item at National Farmers 50^th anniversary convention in Grand Rapids Michigan this week. OFARM, a marketing agency in common started by NFO and other marketing groups in 2000, conducted its annual meeting and established price targets and other important organic policies.

        Price targets for 14 individual organic crops were adjusted upward, including corn, soybeans and wheat. Producer representatives adjusted prices to compensate for rising production costs.

Delegates also voiced concerns for the future viability of the industry. Issues addressed were barriers to producers becoming certified organic, opportunities for continued growth and expansion of the OFARM network, maintaining the integrity of USDA’s national organic standards, and international trade.

“Poor weather conditions in recent seasons have lowered organic yields, while at the same time consumers have increased their demand for organic dairy and livestock products,” said Carmen Fernholz, an NFO member and vice president of OFARM. “Increased consumer demand has in turn driven up the need for organic grain, that’s why a marketing agency in common is vital to producers. It’s essential for organic grain producers to collaborate with livestock and dairy producers in order to maintain profitability for all sectors. ”

        NFOrganics, a division of National Farmers Grain is one of eight association members in the OFARM network. The 8 cooperatives have producer-members in 22 states and Canada.  

National Farmers organic producers enjoy the benefits of belonging to OFARM, because the marketer network allows access to reliable pricing and supply information, critical to making accurate production decisions.

 “When you consider that there is a relatively small population of organic producers, organic grain growers have the best chance of anyone in production agriculture to effectively bargain for fair prices,” said Linda Reineke, director of National Farmers grain. “Producers joining one of the cooperatives within OFARM will help them achieve their pricing goals, and sustain their operations at a profitable level.”

OFARM believes another key issue is growing consumer interest in knowing where their food comes from and how it’s produced. Producers can contact OFARM’s Vice President Carmen Fernholz at 320.598.3010 or NForganics’ Tim Ennis at 800.306.3913. 

  © 2003 OFARM