The “Dirty Dozen” FAQS on Marketing through the Cooperative

1. You must first be a certified organic producer
2. You must send a copy of your current certification with a $75.00 annual membership fee into the cooperative (those paying dues in the last qtr of the year will be paid up for the following year (Oct-Nov-Dec)
3. You must sign a contract with WOMA to market your crop for a minimum of 60 days if you have proper storage. You can sign a contract for shorter time with prior approval from our marketing director if you have no storage.
4. Once your commodity is under contract, do not try to market yourself.
5. If you do not honor your sales agreement a 2 yr suspension out of cooperative membership will be required.
6. Membership in the cooperative requires a minimum of one commodity sold through the cooperative annually. Ideally, better prices for everyone if you contract all your commodities through the cooperative.
7. Prices. The suggested price list through OFARM is simply suggested and it is the pricing for Premium Quality grains and hay. Correct Moisture Levels, Correct protein levels, correct certifications, correct falling numbers, correct RFV, no mold, little to no weeds in hay (some allowed if disclosed and are not noxious weeds). The best prices for all commodities occur in February and March if you have proper storage and keep the quality the same as it was at harvest time. Prices change on a day-to-day basis. Only when we have a signed contract can we guarantee a certain price for your commodity. To retain premium prices for organic products, if your product is below standard sell it in the conventional market rather than raise a chance of rejection from the buyers. Please remember it takes money and proper maintenance for a crop to be stored properly, Weigh the cost of storage with the difference you are anticipating getting for storing a product.
8. Remember only you can decide what price you will accept for your commodity. Our marketer can only tell you what offers are in the marketplace; you decide to accept or decline the offer.
9. Do not send out partial truckloads. You will be charged for a full load of freight. If your contract is fob, the farm the buyer has the right to charge you freight if your truckload was only half-full. No one, including you, should pay for a full loaded truck if it is only half-full. There are however times when it would still net you more money to send out a half-full truck, pay full truck rates on freight to sell your commodity at a higher price. You as the producer must make this decision.
10. The BOARD of Directors has on 1/6/07 approved a policy that states, any commodity that is shipped out of your operation and is rejected by the buyer upon proof of misrepresentation of quality by the seller, the seller will be responsible for the freight to the buyer. This policy is only for those members who knowingly misrepresent the quality of the commodity they are selling.
11. Grain quality is determined by industry standards.
12. We have worked hard to negotiate 10-day pay on Feed and 21 days on Food Grade commodities. The clock starts when we have the weight slip, BOL (bill of lading), Clean Truck Affidavit. It is your responsibility to get those to us. DO NOT ASSUME THE BUYER WILL TAKE CARE OF IT FOR YOU! FAX to 608.427.2179 or mail to Paulette Bradley W10581 Bell Road, Camp Douglas, WI 54618.