The lies they tell us.

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Categorized under: The Lies They Tell Us Organic Valley Conspires

with DFA to Control Organic Milk Price

Some things really are too good to be true. Take Organic Valley.

Established back in 1988, the cooperative is supposed to support the

family farm model and the integrity of organics. Organic Valley

claims: " We are not just seeking family farms; we are looking for

farmers that embrace organic integrity and that want to be part of

our ative. " It would appear that Organic Valley is big on

integrity. So how is it that producers for Organic Valley are being

paid based on lab results from Dairy Farmers of America?

Dairy producers in Wisconsin are paid based on the analysis of their

milk by an outfit called LabResults.Net. And who owns this lab?

Dairy Farmers of America. Click here to see the proof in black and

white. The secure website where farmers check their results is

wholly owned and operated by DFA.

DFA is currently under investigation by federal commodity regulators

for manipulating the price of conventional milk on the CME. It won't

be long before someone figures out that Organic Valley is in the

thick of it. DFA is also facing an anti-trust lawsuit in the

Southeast for conspiring to allow middlemen to illegally pay

producers less and charge retailers more. DFA controls at least one-

third of the nation's milk supply. Integrity is not a word family

farmers associate with DFA, and they shouldn't associate it with

Organic Valley either.

For years Organic Valley producers have been complaining about the

poor quality of the lab and the inconsistent results. For years the

board of OV has insisted the lab is doing a first-rate job. Well,

they seem to be doing a first-rate job making sure producers are

getting ripped-off. Baffled by the board's stonewalling and refusal

to find a new lab, many producers have resigned themselves to the

fact that wrong or not, the board won't take action and there's

nothing they can do about it.

This is a betrayal of the worst kind. Family farmers, consumers and

Organic Valley stock holders believe they are upholding

the " integrity of organics. " Siemon and the other board

members have no integrity at all. They have betrayed the organic

community, consumers, and shareholders and are conspiring with a

known corrupt entity to destroy family farms by keeping the price

they are paid for their milk as low as possible.

The betrayal doesn't stop there. Siemon and company have repeatedly

told producers that they are solidly against National Animal

Identification System (NAIS). This USDA-backed program threatens to

destroy family farms as we know them. Many Organic Valley producers

are Mennonite or Amish; they believe that by complying with the

program they will be abandoning their religious beliefs. They have

been assured that Organic Valley is on their side. Too bad it's a

lie.

In an e-mail obtained through a Freedom of Information Act Request

by Peck, Director of Family Farm Defenders, one State official

clearly explains to another that Siemon is all for premises

registration and has even thanked the State for their " work with the

Amish. " So how has the State of Wisconsin " worked with the Amish? "

By denying them shipping permits if they don't buckle under and do

what they're told.

Then there is the factory farm debacle. Unbeknownst the producers,

and company decided to buy milk from a factory farm, while at

the same time telling smaller producers that they weren't taking any

more milk. How did the producers find out about this? When The

Country Today, a Midwestern rural-themed newspaper, broke the story.

It's time for Siemon and the entire board to resign. The

producers have lost trust in them, and as soon as the consumer

learns about the true nature of Organic Valley's so-called organic

integrity, they'll lose their trust, too.