Fourth-generation Idaho dairy farm switches to organic operations after 2009 economic downturn

GOODING, Idaho A third of all agricultural income in the state comes from dairy, making it a significant component of the state’s agricultural economy. A fourth-generation farming family at Turner Dairy in Gooding switched to organic farming in order to weather economic hardships and found unanticipated advantages in the process.

“That would make it the fourth generation to live on this piece of land thus far. Cody Turner, who runs the dairy out of the house where his grandparents used to reside, added, “And my kids be the fifth.”

Visitors used to traditional dairy farms may be surprised to see how Turner’s dairy cows spend their days grazing in expansive green pastures. One of the most basic prerequisites for organic dairy production is shown in this pastoral scene: cows must graze on green pastures for at least 120 days a year, with at least 30% of their feed coming from organic grass.

“So on our organic dairy, you’ll see the cows on grass every day throughout the summer,” Turner explained.

Turner has been a traditional dairy farmer for the previous three generations. Turner started looking into organic farming as a means of sustaining the family business during the 2009 financial crisis. In order to secure more consistent prices for his milk, he initiated discussions with Horizon Organic.

“The price was a lot more stable than what I was used to, and so I thought – well, I don’t know anything about organic farming, but I’m going to figure it out, otherwise as a young farmer I don’t know if I’ll survive another downturn like that,” Turner stated.

Learning the intricate regulations of organic farming, which Turner characterizes as a continuous endeavor, was the first step.

“That’s been an ongoing process learning how to go back to our roots of farming before we had all the tools that we now have as far as conventional fertilizers and synthetic herbicide and pesticides, we have to be able to live without all of that stuff and be successful without it,” Turner stated.

The changeover wasn’t quick or simple. After ten years of organic operations, Turner acknowledges that the first year was a complete failure, but the initiative is now yielding benefits beyond steady price.

“The health of our cows and our crops are pretty noticeable compared to what we had dealt with in the past, and I would have to tell that that all starts from the soil,” Turner stated.

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