Horizon Organic is investing $13 million in its Land Stewardship Initiative. The multi-tiered program will fund grazing and agricultural land expansion for its two original farms and its growing national network of family farmers.
Along with more than 1,400 acres to be added to Horizon’s original farm in Idaho, the Land Stewardship Initiative will improve the quality of its existing pasture lands and assist in the transition of thousands of acres of farm land and hundreds of family farms to certified organic practices. Improved pasture lands and new family farmers will enable Horizon Organic to keep pace with the American consumer’s thirst for organic dairy products, which is growing at more than 16 percent per year, according to the Natural Foods Merchandiser Market Overview 2004 report.
Horizon Organic will invest $10 million in its original dairy farm in Idaho, which in 1995 became the first certified organic large dairy farm in the country. This investment is the culmination of a four-year plan by Horizon Organic to significantly expand its organic pasture land. The plan also includes the construction of new barns and a state-of-the-art milking parlor.
Currently 75 percent of Horizon Organic’s milk is supplied by more than 300 certified organic family dairy farms, and new family farms are essential to secure future organic milk supplies. The company is currently supporting more than 130 transitional dairy farmers through its Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) program, and is seeking to encourage many more family farmers to convert to organic farming. Through its HOPE program, the company provides much needed funding and hands-on training and assistance from the company’s producer relations staff. Horizon Organic will invest a minimum of $500,000 to $1 million, annually, as part of a multi-year commitment, so that dairy farmers in transition to organic have the ability to purchase more expensive organic feeds and convert their farms to meet the organic standards.
Horizon Organic is also partnering with Holistic Management International, a non-profit ranch/farm management organization, specializing in the management of pastures and rangelands to maximize biodiversity, water retention and carbon sequestration. Horizon Organic will be working with Holistic Management International to develop best practices for its organic farm in Idaho, including a holistic grazing plan and new techniques designed to regenerate and improve the health of the land and increase biodiversity.
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