ORGANIC VALLEY MEETINGS
Thursday, May 8
Organic Valley Cooperative has honored Veterinarian Dr. Paul Detloff with the group's highest honor, the Ray Hass Organic Pioneer Award. Dr. Detloff serves as Organic Valley's resident doctor of veterinary medicine, educating the co-op's farmer members and retail and consumer partners on the importance of organics in herd health through presentations, farm visits and workshops. For the past five years, Organic Valley has recognized a deserving farmer with the award, named for the late Ray Hass, one of its founding farmers. The award was presented during the organization's annual meeting in April.

'Organic Valley is incredibly grateful for Dr. Detloff's invaluable contributions to both our co-op and the entire organic industry,' said George Siemon, chief executive officer for Organic Valley. 'His pioneering efforts in organic livestock treatment have shaped the industry and helped transitioning farmers, including hundreds of our own members, understand the shift in approach to herd health required for successful, sustainable organic production.'

Dr. Dettloff has spent the last 15 years of his 36 year veterinary career specializing in sustainable and organic/biological treatment of dairy and beef cattle, sheep and goats. He has researched and developed treatment protocols for many natural remedies, botanicals and homeopathic medicines. He also is author of the book Alternative Treatments for Ruminant Animals and the owner of Dr. Paul's brand of tinctures and herd health products.

In addition to its 20th anniversary, Organic Valley celebrated its top dairy producers by recognizing more than 300 of them with the co-op's Dairy Quality Awards. The coop also held a silent auction that raised more than $9,400 for the Art Wedig Fund, a disaster relief fund for organic farmers.

By wisconsinagconnection.com

THE LATEST ORGANIC VALLEY NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME