2014 Sustainability Report · 2018-03-122014 Sustainability Report
Cropp Sustainability Report 2014
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Transcript of Cropp Sustainability Report 2014
Serving Our Mission and Growing the Organic Movement
Sustainability ReportSECOND EDI TION
T he United Nations has declared 2015 the
International Year of Soils. This is very
exciting for our cooperative because
we’ve built this business literally from the soil
up. Did you know that one handful of healthy soil
contains more living organisms than there are people
on earth? When you think about the hundreds of
thousands of acres collectively stewarded on our
family farms, that’s a lot of life in our hands—but
it’s out-of-sight life that most never think about.
We spend a lot of time thinking about soil. The great
complexity of soil life is not deeply understood even
though our existence relies on its healthy function.
This is the very foundation of all sustainability, and
on our farms we will continue to pioneer the field to
understand and protect living soil.
After 26 years working closely with the people
behind this incredible organization we call
CROPP Cooperative, I think about how many
people have worked in hidden roles here and
contributed essential energy to our success, similar
to how all the powerful elements within our soils
provide life for us all.
The business of CROPP Cooperative—everything
that happens each day after the milk and the
produce and the meat and the eggs leave the farm
to be prepared for retail shelves—is complicated,
difficult, time-sensitive work, and it is handled by
this amazing team of employees. We even have a
nick-name for ourselves: CROPPies.
The daily, earth-healing work of Organic Valley
and Organic Prairie farmers is at the core of our
mission. The continuous improvement of our
business's sustainability practices is our backbone,
and for this I thank CROPPies. In this report,
we proudly share some of our successes, but we
know we have many opportunities for improvement,
which we’ll also share with you. Transparency
allows us to keep our eye on the big picture of
environmental and economic sustainability that
our mission demands.
When CROPP was founded in 1988, there were
more than 200,000 dairy farms in the U.S.—
today there are less than 65,0001. There are many
causes for the decrease over time, and recently the
number of organic dairies has decreased as well, due
to farmer retirement, limited organic acreage, less
organic feed, and water scarcity. CROPP must
address these constraints in order to ensure the long-
term sustainability of our family farms and our
cooperative. We’re fortunate that so few CROPP farmers
irrigate to grow feed and pasture, but even so,
as weather extremes continue to intensify, we must
prioritize strategies to mitigate our future water risk.
I know that we’ll be successful because, more than
ever before, CROPPies and farmers are pulling
together toward our goal to be fully sustainable.
In these pages you will meet some folks and learn of
their accomplishments in sustainability, but many more
will remain unnamed. To me they are all heroes.
In Cooperation,
George Siemon
CEIEIO
CEIEIO
1 US Ag census 1987 and 2012
usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/AgCensusImages/1987/01/51/28/Table-01.pdf
agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/usv1.pdf
There are more organisms in one teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on earth.
Dear Friends,*
| 1
HOW WE'RE DOING
Successfully Pursuing Our Mission
Actively Improving Our Performance
Our Vision for Sustainability
Organic Requires More Tillage for Weed Control
Two Biodiesel Stations to Fuel CROPP Vehicles
Community Recycling Events
& Employee Vanpools
Generation Organic &
CROPP Staff
Training Incentives
Environmental Documentary
Films & Trainings
Water Strategy Needed
Procure and Transition Local Land to Certified Organic Status
Employee Garden Club
FARMS
CROPP COOPERATIVE
COMMUNITY
ECOLOGYsoil, water, grass, total
acreage, avoided chemicals
2014 EMISSIONSwaste, electricity, fuel
EDUCATIONyoung farmer, leadership
development
CROPP'S MISSION:
To create and operate a marketing
cooperative that promotes regional farm
diversity and economic stability by the
means of organic agricultural methods
and the sale of certified organic products.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY VISION
When we: • foster a culture of sustainability within the cooperative,
• optimize the use of resources (water, energy and waste) throughout our operations, and...
• increase farmer profitability through efficient, sustainable use of energy, water and waste products,
our farms, communities and CROPP become more environmentally, economically and socially responsible places to live and work.
MISSION
Soil is made of 45% Minerals, 25% Water, 25% Air & 5% Organic matter.
*
| 3
Organic farming promotes water and air quality, prohibits the use
of toxic pesticides, insecticides and synthetic fertilizers, increases
biodiversity and builds soil fertility and structure.
ANIMAL CARECROPP’s Farm Resources Department combines the
technical support services of veterinarians, a nutri-
tionist, an animal care specialist and an agronomist
under one roof to provide advice and guidance to all
Organic Valley and Organic Prairie farmers.
Animals and their environment aren’t the only ones that benefit from proper care and good food. Human health and wellbeing benefit from positive interaction with animals.
AVOIDED PESTICIDESCROPP’s organic dairy farmers have kept more than
235 million pounds of toxins and synthetic fertilizers
off the land since 1988.
Fewer pesticides means more healthy critters
On-Farm Sustainability
• Cows grazing organic pasture are in their natural environment, eating what they’re meant to eat
• Healthy soil retains moisture
• Organic pasture builds soil health
• The plant roots retain soil
• Soil and water erosion and run-off are reduced
GRANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CROPP’s Grant Assistance Program helps secure
funding for innovative, mission-aligned programs
for the business and farmers.
ON-FARM RENEWABLES Organic isn’t the only good thing happening on
CROPP farms. Last year, over 850,000 kilowatts of
clean renewable energy were produced by our farmers
across the country, a number that has nearly
doubled since 2011.
on-farm renewable energy and energy efficiency projects funded with grants
in grants awarded to CROPP farmers and the business since 1988
$10 million
30 projects
Nearly
1 million kW of Energy Produced
Low-stress animals are safer to be around
for both humans and other animals
Animals at peak health resist illness and bounce back to peak health quickly
when stressed
• Ground-and-surface- water is protected
•
•
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
1M
800k
600k
400k
200k
0
ON-FARM
| 5
BETTER INGREDIENTSWhile 100% of the dairy products that you enjoy
come from Organic Valley’s family farmers, some of
our products, such as chocolate milk, eggnog and
creamers, use cane sugar for a touch of sweetness.
It’s important to us that the farmers growing the
sugarcane used in your favorite Organic Valley
products are doing so with the same care and
respect for the environment as our dairy farms. That’s
why we source from the Native Green Cane Project.
Native’s farms have 23 times more biodiversity than
conventional sugarcane farms, and the growth and
production of their sugarcane is 100% carbon neutral.
Now that’s sweet!
BETTER HABITATSCROPP farmer-owners opened their farms to the
Birds and Beans Census Project.
“Often it’s through the back door that life’s
significant truths come to settle with us.
Such was the case with understanding our
relationship with the critters sharing our farm.”
Loretta Jaus CROPP farmer-owner from Minnesota
BETTER NUTRITIONOrganic Valley Pasture-Raised Whole Milk has more
of the heart-healthy fatty acids our bodies need for
good health than conventional whole milk. Organic
Valley Pasture-Raised Whole Milk has:
• 62% higher omega-3
• A nutritionally ideal ratio
of omega-6 and omega-3
essential fatty acids
• 18% higher conjugated
linoleic acid (CLA)
Learn more at:
www.organicvalley.coop/grassup/
ON-FARM
| 7
PACKAGING
We don't label our milk cartons as recyclable—but they are. They don’t contain wax (and haven’t for many years), and are heat sealed—not glued.
Milk Cartons Are Made Of: • 80% paperboard and
• 20% low density polyethylene
(LDPE) #4 resin.
To feature a recycling symbol on a package,
recycling of that type of packaging
must be available to 60% of households
— and the United States is not there yet.
The problem isn't the carton; the problem
is access to recycling across the country.
The Carton Council is working hard to
increase carton recycling access across
the United States. Access has increased
from 18% of households in 2008 to
52% in 2014. Help them reach more than 60% in 2015!
Take Action!Contact recyclecartons.com/
carton-recycling/ to start recycling
cartons in your community today!
• Outer polyethylene (Liquid barrier)
• Inner polyethylene (Liquid barrier)
• Paperboard (Stability)
MILK CARTON
Packaging
OUR SUPPLY CHAIN IN BRIEF
Sustainable Operations
FarmersCROPP HQ
1,799 farms in 36 U.S. States, Canada, & Australia
Operations based at CROPP Headquarters in La Farge, WI – powered by wind & sun
SUPPLY CHAIN IMPROVEMENTS
www.epa.gov/smartway/forlogistics/index.htm
For more, visit:
Improved Load Fill/Truck Utilization
MORE THAN
20% as an EPA SmartWay
Transport Partner
80% Efficiency Gain with new pallet jack chargers
62
Quality Checks from cow to consumer
OPERATIONS
83% of the arable land in North and Central America is used for family farming*
By keeping our products as local as possible with regional pooling, we're able to connect consumers to their farmers and minimize our overall environmental footprint.
Processors
• Using rail whenever possible for transport.
Consumers
Milk from the farm is bottled in partner plants as near to farms as possible
Finished products are then shipped to retailers within the same region
RENEWABLE ENERGY BIODIESEL
www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top30onsite.htm
For more, visit:
81% Green Power
Used in 2014! An increase from 69% in 2013!
Top 30
Sourced Enough Certified Organic Oil
to meet all of the
cooperative's
Biodiesel needs
in 2014
| 9
EVERYTHING'S CONNECTED
CROPP Cooperative recognizes and nurtures eight wellness dimensions in a holistic approach to health and well-being.
Holistic Wellness
FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL
S
OCIAL
I
NT
ELLE
CT
UA
L
E
NV
IRO
NM
EN
TAL
P
HYSI
CAL
EMOTIONAL SPIRITUA
L
Well Workplace Award
Wellness managers accepting
the “Well Workplace” Gold
Award from the Wellness
Council of America, recognizing
CROPP for quality and excellence
in worksite health promotion.
CROPPies taking classes in new fitness center
CROPPies at the Dirty Girl Mud Run
Farmer wellness booth at Annual Meeting 2014
Farmers need TLC, too! At
CROPP annual meetings,
farmers have access to free
wellness screenings.
Bob Goonin Green Spirit Award
Recognizing a CROPPie who demonstrates exemplary sustainability leadership at work and in the community.
Bob Goonin is such a leader—
he truly embodies sustainability.
He drives a hybrid car, has a solar
photovoltaic array at his home
and has been a biodiesel advocate
for years. But that’s just the
beginning. In 2014, Bob led the
development of a loan program
—administered through a local
credit union—which offers low-
interest loans to other community
members for solar, wind or
geothermal installations, as well
as energy conservation upgrades.
Bob even facilitated a deposit by
CROPP to support the program.
CROPPies IN ACTION
CELEBRATING HEROES
Businesses save from 3 to 10 dollars
for every dollar spent on employee
wellness initiatives!
www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/careers/benefits/
A great place to work:
| 11
WELLNESS
As a cooperative of organic family farmers on a
mission, CROPP joins hands with mission-aligned
businesses and organizations across the country to
support local communities and create a better food
system for all.
Beyond its mission to provide a sustainable living
for family farmers, CROPP gives 5% of its profits to
hundreds of grassroots organizations that:
• Support organic family farmers
• Grow organic food systems
• Promote environmental sustainability
• Foster health and wellness through organic
• Do good in their communities
Visit ov.coop/powerofwe to read stories of the partners
we’re working with (like Vida Verde, at right) to
cultivate a healthier future for people and planet.
Together, there’s no limit to the change we can create. We call it the Power of We.
Imagine the rare opportunity for inner city children
to get out into nature and explore the great
outdoors. For so many kids around the nation,
sitting around a campfire, swimming in lakes and
streams or hiking through the mountains is just a
dream. Fortunately, there’s Vida Verde, a non-profit
organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area
of California, that provides environmental learning
experiences to get young people out of the city.
www.organicvalley.coop/power-of-we www.vveducation.org
Vida Verde: Changing Children's Lives, One Farm Animal at a Time
For more, visit: For more, visit: 95% of our food comes from soil!*
Over 1,000 causes supported
in 2014!
GIVING PROGRAM
ON E OF O U R 2014 H E ROES
Philanthropy & Partnerships
PHILANTHROPY & PARTNERSHIPS
The National Farm to School Network is a grass-
roots advocacy network for communities working to
bring local food sourcing and food and agriculture
education into school systems and preschools.
Nearly 30 million Americans lack access to healthy,
affordable foods. Wholesome Wave initiatives
provide tens of thousands of families annually
with the opportunity to purchase affordable,
healthy, locally grown food.
OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS
www.farmtoschool.org
40k schools
$385M spent on local food
23.5M students engaged
&
For more, visit:
300farmers markets & food hubscommunities
25 states
With programs
in
+D.C.
www.wholesomewave.org
For more, visit:
| 13
+
&
Organic Leadership
$2.5M in grants donated since 2007,
to projects in these four categories
80%of CROPP farmers donate to FAFO
to build a megaphone for organics
For more, visit: www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/donations/fafo-fund/
CONSUMER EDUCATION
What’s so great about organic?
RESEARCH Proving organic
is better.
FARMER EDUCATION
On-farm dynamics
SUCCESSION PLANNING
Bring on the next generation
www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/generation
-organic/about-gen-o/ | 15
Sustainable farms are multi-generational. CROPP’s
Generation Organic1 (Gen-O) program supports
over 300 young farmers as they begin managing
their own farms and helps attract new young
farmers into organic farming.
LEADERSHIP
Gen-Os in The Classroom Connected with kids in 88 elementary school classrooms across the country.
1 Generation Organic consists of young
CROPP farmers aged 18-35.
"We need to get ahead of the
curve of the retiring farmers in
our cooperative and in the nation
at large. There is going to be
serious competition for the
next generation of farmers in
the next 20 years."
Sarah Holm Gen-O Executive Committee Member
For more, visit:
Regional Gathering
Gen-Os want boots-on-the-ground info they can use
on the farm. Regional gatherings focus on learning
opportunities with guest experts.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
“The new Farm Bill recognizes several key priorities we've been working so hard toward in the past two years. We believe organic is an important part of our future food system, and we will continue to encourage Congress and USDA to support this critical system.”
George Siemon CROPP CEIEIO
ORGANIC GAINS IN 2014 FARM BILL
CROPP is committed to engaging lawmakers and
the public on strong farm policy and has joined other
organic activists in the debate over the new Farm
Bill. In early 2014, Congress passed and President
Barack Obama signed the 2014 Farm Bill that
included many wins for organic.
• $20M/yr organic research
• $20M/yr new farmer training programs nationwide
• $13M/yr offset farmer organic certification costs
• Continued funding of on-farm organic conservation activities
• Organic farmers exempted from mandatory check-off assessments
Right Top Two: CROPP farmers Theresa and Ceara Westaby conducting congressional meetings in Washington, D.C. on the need for genetically engineered food labeling
Right Bottom: Organic Valley farmer and employee Kristina Ralph meeting with Congressman Ron Kind during Farm Bill visits
| 17
LEADERSHIP
Sunny Slope Farms, Egg Harbor, WI
Doug & Sharon accepting their award
Gary Mosgaller Leadership in Sustainability Award
The young farmers of Generation Organic have
recognized Gary Mosgaller of Sunny Slope Farms
for his outstanding commitment to sustainable
agriculture by stewarding the land, knowledge and
resources for the next generation.
Gary is a third-generation farmer and became
a member of the CROPP Dairy Pool in 1995. He
believes that investing in renewable energy is akin
to investing in a sustainable future, and harvesting
the sun and wind is just like harvesting another
crop that Mother Nature offers.
In 2011, he installed a 19.6 kW solar electric system,
the county’s largest at the time. Two years into his
10-year contract, Gary’s utility attempted to lower
the reimbursement rate that he receives for excess
energy generated by the system.
With the help of a local attorney, Gary won his case.
The utility even admitted that they had no right
to dissolve his contract. The case set a precedent
in Wisconsin and the nation. Gary went above
and beyond to protect the viability of his farm
and the viability of the renewable energy industry
in Wisconsin.
Doug & Sharon Sinko Ray Hass Organic Pioneer Award
Recognizing the pioneers and visionaries who have made CROPP what it is today. The 2014 Award winners are Doug and Sharon Sinko from Coos County, Oregon.
In 1994, the Sinkos became the first certified
organic dairy in the Pacific Northwest. By 1999,
Doug and Sharon had convinced five other
farmers in the area to go organic. The Sinkos
remain tireless advocates for organic agriculture.
Today there are 14 dairy farms remaining in Coos
County and 12 are organic.
CE L E BR AT I NG H E ROES
CE L E BR AT I NG H E ROES
SOIL FACTS
Soil Health INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SOILS
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has declared 2015 the International Year of Soils to promote
healthy soils for a healthy life.
Sustainable Soil Management Could
Produce 58% MORE FOOD
Read the full study at: journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0012346
A recent study found that:
Organically farmed soils have
More Carbon Nitrogen,
Microbial Biomass & Activity
Strawberries grown in organic
soil have Higher Antioxidants, Longer Shelf Life,
& Better Taste
compared to conventional soil.
| 18
For more on the Year of Soils, visit: www.fao.org/soils-2015/en/
CREDITS
Design by Modern Species
CROPP Farm Photography by David Nevala & Shawn Linehan
WWW.ORGANICVALLEY.COOP© CROPP COOPERATIVE 2015 OPS-P02433
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