CLAREMONT – A dairy farm in Claremont recently became the first organic dairy in New Hampshire to win a regional award from the Green Pastures Program.

Haynes Dairy Farm was certified as an organic dairy farm in May, and two months later was named Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year for 2007.

Farm owner John Haynes said the switch to all-organic feed and fertilizer was relatively simple, because the herd of about 60 cows has always grazed.

"Our farm has been kind of old-fashioned," said Haynes, whose parents, David and Nellie, purchased the farm in 1961. "We've always pastured our cows. We never moved over to confinement feeding like other farms have."

John and Beth Haynes own 130 acres and rent 60 more near Route 12 in Claremont. Because all the land is connected and on the same side of the road, their cows can easily graze a new patch of rolling green pasture about every 12 hours without needing to be transported. Haynes said organic farming makes the job of a farmer easier -- because the cows harvest their own feed and spread their own fertilizer -- and more satisfying.

"For me, I enjoy this," he said. "When I call the cows and put them in a new pasture, they follow me. It's fun."

All the cows have names and individual stalls to call home, Haynes said, and they tend to be possessive about their space. "If someone else comes in, they'll kick them right out," he said.

The Haynes offered a tour of their farm Friday, providing a glimpse of their close relationship with their herd. "Hey girls!" said Beth Haynes, as she greeted a group of heifers, which the Haynes said they consider their "teenagers."

"One of the things I love to do at night is to just go out and listen to them munching," John said.

Being certified organic allows the Haynes farm to take advantage of higher milk prices, which are guaranteed to stay the same or increase. Organic milk fetches about $26 per 100 pounds, versus conventional milk, which is selling this year for about $20 per 100 pounds, Haynes said. Sold through the organic dairy cooperative Organic Valley, milk from the Haynes farm is exclusively purchased by Stonyfield Yogurt in Londonderry.

The Green Pastures Program, which names one Outstanding Dairy Farm winner from each of the New England states, evaluates farms on their achievement in business management, crop production, pasture quality, herd performance, environmental practices, and community leadership. Judges cited the many farm innovations, clean cows and barn, quality pasture, and the overall dairy operation as the reasons for selecting the Haynes' farm.

George Siemon, chief executive officer of Organic Valley Family of Farms, said the award means a lot to the cooperative.

"We're delighted that New England Green Pastures has for the first time selected an organic dairy for its annual New Hampshire award, and we're even more thrilled that it's one of the 1,100 members of our family farms," he said. "As an organic farmer who is a member of a co-operative, not only is Haynes providing nutritious dairy products for his region, his farm's revenues directly impact his community and state. That's a big difference from corporate farms, where profits are most often taken out of the community.

Beth Haynes said John's practices and innovations, including a round-the-barn track feeder, gutter cleaners, a new ventilation system and a training paddock where calves are taught to stay away from the electric fence, help the farm stay productive and profitable while adapting to changing markets, regulations, and technologies.

"He's tried to make the farm efficient and sustainable," she said, "and I think that's what did it."