In the dairy industry, 2015 may be the year of the consumer, which brings with it some great news for farmers. While sales of gallons of white milk continue to decline, dairy continues to grow in value-added and niche segments such as whole-fat dairy products, organic and yogurt.

When thinking of organic dairying, most farmers don’t often think of robotic milkers. However, producer experience shows that robotic milkers work well with organic dairying. “The cow has a choice about when she gets milked,” organic dairyman Pete Ruegemer of Villard, Minnesota, says. “Robots also work well with the grazing system that’s required by the organic regulations.”

Organic dairyman Perry Clutts didn’t set out to be a farmer. “I was a bit of an environmental activist in my younger years. I later served time in the restaurant business and was a general contractor for 15 years,” he says. Today, Clutts is not only a farmer, but one who is committed to educating other farmers, his community and the public about the benefits of organic agriculture. In a way, he’s come full circle to his environmental activist roots.