Aurora Organic Dairy and Colorado State University Announce Research Partnership Funded by Aurora Organic Dairy Foundation

Business Wire, April 22, 2008

Grant to Fund Research Projects on Animal Welfare, Forage Crops and Soil Fertility for Organic Pasture; Findings to Be Shared with Organic Agriculture Community

BOULDER, Colo. -- Aurora Organic Dairy, a leading U.S. provider of high-quality private-label organic milk and butter, and Colorado State University (CSU), one of the nation's leading research universities, today announced a multi-year master research agreement with the University's College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, which is in the College of Applied Human Sciences. CSU professors and leading professionals in agricultural sciences will lead this groundbreaking research initiative, funded by a three-year $500,000 grant from the Aurora Organic Dairy Foundation.

The research will focus on animal welfare, veterinary medicine, growing perennial forage crops and optimizing soil fertility for organic pasture development in the Rocky Mountain West. Findings will be shared with the organic agriculture community to build the industry's knowledge base and capabilities for continuing the sustainable growth of organic agriculture, particularly in Northern Colorado - one of the most productive dairy regions in the country, and home to CSU.

The partnership will provide students enrolled in CSU's Organic Agriculture Certificate Program with scholarships, and hands-on learning and research opportunities through on-farm internships.

"This partnership presents an exciting and unique opportunity for CSU professors and students to contribute to organic agriculture research and solve real-world issues that will help further the growth of organics," said Marc Johnson, Ph.D., dean of CSU's College of Agricultural Sciences. "We are looking forward to working with Aurora Organic Dairy and sharing our findings with the agricultural community as we move forward with our commitment to advance agriculture for the 21st century, in Colorado and beyond."

The research partnership will be based at Aurora Organic Dairy's Platteville, Colo., dairy farm. CSU students will conduct the research at Aurora Organic Dairy's three dairy farms in Northern Colorado, as well as on CSU's Agricultural Research Development and Education Center in Larimer County.

"We are dedicated to conducting and supporting science-based research that will build shared knowledge of organic agriculture," said Mark Retzloff, chairman of Aurora Organic Dairy. "We've found an ideal partner in CSU, as they share our commitment to a science-based approach to the sustainable growth of organic agriculture. The success of our company has enabled us to create opportunities to learn, and to contribute to a stronger knowledge base for the organic agriculture community as a whole."

About Colorado State University and the College of Agricultural Sciences

The College of Agricultural Sciences at CSU proudly encompasses the land grant mission of the university, and through cutting edge research and hands-on learning prepares future generations for stewardship of the land and agricultural resources. The college provides majors in traditional disciplines such as agronomy, animal sciences and horticulture, yet also offers programs like organic agriculture and agribusiness to meet the changing needs of today's society. For more information, visit www.agsci.colostate.edu.

About Aurora Organic Dairy

Aurora Organic Dairy's mission is making high-quality organic milk and butter more affordable and available for American families. The company is a leading producer of private-label and store-brand organic milk and butter. The organic production company includes headquarters offices in Boulder, Colo., five organic dairy farms in Colorado and Texas and an on-farm organic dairy processing plant near Platteville, Colo. For more information, visit www.auroraorganic.com.