There are approximately 62,000 organic dairy cattle in the UK. Organic dairy production aims to produce healthy, good quality milk in an ecologically responsible way, for which the farmer gets a fair return. The organic approach is designed to deliver positive health throughout soils, plants and crops through to the animal, avoiding the need for agrochemicals and routine antibiotics, while contributing positively to the environment and wildlife. Organic farmers apply management practices that aim to maintain optimum herd health. News Milk shortages feared A strike in Europe's biggest milk-consuming society is having a knock-on effect across Europe. IG Milch, the Austrian dairy association, has called on farmers to cut deliveries by half to protest against low milk prices. The Dutch Dairymen Board is telling its 4,000 members to keep milk on the farm and there are protests in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. The Times (30 May, p.59) The Guardian (30 May, p.26) OMSCo opens up farms to local children The Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCo) has launched a free guide for its members who are interested in welcoming schools and local children’s groups to their farms. The Farm Visits Pack is a step-by-step guide to hosting visits and includes advice on everything from how to make contact with local schools to preparing the farm for visitors and suggestions for activities on the day. It also contains health and safety information and details on which organisations to contact for funding. ‘Opening your farm to schools: A guide for organic dairy farmers’ can be downloaded from www.omsco.co.uk Packs can also be ordered by calling OMSCo’s freephone careline on 0800 3894998 or by emailing gill.crane@omsco.co.uk Information resources Dairy cows on an organic farm: a case study Mineral supplements Forage production and utilisation Organic beef and dairy production: an introductory guide Marketing information for organic farmers (meat, milk, eggs, grain) Milk replacer advice Sources of animal feed Click on the links above or contact us to get a copy. Price data Latest livestock, dairy and eggs price data Useful links Source organic dairy cattle from the Soil Association's organic marketplace: www.organicmarketplace.org Cattle health and welfare in organic farming: www.organic-vet.reading.ac.uk/cattleweb/home.htm To find out about homoeopathy training courses for farmers contact 'Homoeopathy at Wellie Level' (HAWL) www.hawl.co.uk Useful contacts Support in your area from the Food and Farming Department