The way we eat has to change. We see the easy way of doing things,
yet we go the harder road. It's very rewarding.
My name is Ross Nelson. This is Nelson's Organic Dairy,
in southeast Minnesota.
This is my family farm. I farm here
with my folks, Laverne and Arlene.
We have 365 acres.
We milk around 80, 85 cows.
Growing up, it was hard. Farming was kind of tough,
because we were conventional.
And the fluctuating prices, almost on a day-to-day basis and then Organic came along
and they find a price that seems to work
for everyone and it stays there.
We're part of Organic Valley, which is one of the largest organic milk co-ops in the nation.
Because we are setup organic, 
we try to be as sustainable as we can.
Our cattle have to be fed certified organic feed
with no GMO's, no hormones, no antibiotics;
no pesticide, herbicide or insecticide.
Thirty percent of all
  that they eat in a day has to come from grazing.
This is where they pretty much stay all summer, 
in pasture land.
And then we'll be working it back up again, 
plowing it up and putting in corn one year and
then we'll put it right back into pasture again. 
What's good for the soil is good for us.
In the conventional side of it, everyone is so focused on 
how much can we get out of this cow.
and I think on the organic side of it,
it's how healthy can I get this cow.
For us, there was just health issues, 
my parents had both been taken ill 
with insecticides.
and then, Laverne was sick and 
two years right in a row,
you start to pay attention
to what you were using, what you were doing
and how was that affecting your health.
In conventional farming, it's so easy to go 
put in a crop of corn, come out
and spray it
with a cancer-causing ingredient. 
I mean, it's not rocket science,
to know that it isn't good. 
When we went organic, 
the first year,
it was such a, a good feeling. 
To know that you did it without poisoning the ground or hurting anyone,
 there's a sense of satisfaction that comes with that.
I would like to see the whole country go organic.
I know when I consume what we produce or people consume
anything off of our land, I'm not subjecting them to any toxic materials 
and that sure helps me with peace of mind. 
We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity, 
that belongs to us.
When we see it as a community,
to which we belong, we can treat it with love and respect.
I think we're doing really well, 
for our size,
supporting two families.
And I wish everyone could experience it.
It's hard work,
long hours, but, 
it's very rewarding.
