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Horizon Organic(R) Supports National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Recommendation of 30 Percent Dry Matter Intake From Grazing

Posted on: Friday, 25 May 2007, 15:00 CDT

Horizon Organic®, which helped pioneer organic dairy farming practices 15 years ago, today announced its that it will be incorporating into their standards of care the NOSB recommendation that requires organic dairy cows to get an average of 30 percent of their daily diet from grazing on pasture for a minimum of 120 days a year. Horizon Organic also encouraged the organic dairy industry to set goals that exceed that minimum.

Horizon Organic issued its updated "Standards of Care" which includes NOSB's recommendation. The "Standards of Care" govern the management practices used by its two company-owned dairy farms. The update also includes refinements based on collaborative efforts with key organic industry leaders, including The Organic Center and Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA).

"We asked some of the organic industry's most respected leaders to candidly review and comment on our 'Standards of Care.' It is extremely important to us that Horizon Organic's farm standards contain the kind of detail that is clearly understood by dairy farmers and the organic dairy industry, at large," said Kelly Shea, vice president of industry relations and organic stewardship for Horizon Organic. "The feedback was invaluable. As a result, we expanded the sections on grazing, pasture management, and environmental stewardship," said Shea, noting that the "Standards of Care" are the result of 15 years of collective experience in organic dairy farming from Horizon Organic's two farms and the hundreds of farm families who provide milk to the company.

Jule Taylor, vice president of dairy operations for Horizon Organic, said the "Standards of Care" will continue to change as holistic and sustainable dairy practices evolve with innovation.

"As a company that helped pioneer organic practices, we feel a responsibility to continue improving the way we do organic, and we believe that our updated 'Standards of Care' accurately capture our farm management beliefs and goals," said Taylor, who oversees the management of the company's farms. "We are always open to listening to organic experts to determine how we can continue to improve our farming practices."

The "Standards of Care" were created to demonstrate what Horizon Organic is doing to protect the integrity of the USDA's organic seal and advance organic farming practices on its company-owned farms. According to Shea and Taylor, they also play an important role in educating the public about what organic farming means, how it's done and why it's good for consumers, communities and cows.

To review the Horizon Organic "Standards of Care" visit www.horizonorganic.com.

About Horizon Organic

Horizon Organic, founded in 1991, was the first certified organic dairy to distribute products nationally in the United States. The company remains true to its vision for a more organic planet, purchasing milk from 349 certified organic dairy farms and providing certified organic dairy products to natural foods retailers and supermarkets across the country. Horizon Organic's products are produced without the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones, or harmful pesticides. That's the organic promise from our farmers to consumers. For more information on the growing world of organic, visit www.horizonorganic.com.

Source: Business Wire

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