World-renowned expert on organic veterinary animal health joins Rodale Institute



Rodale InstituteRodale Institute, a non-profit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through research and outreach, today announced the appointment of Dr. Hubert Karreman as the Institute Veterinarian. Dr. Karreman has led Bovinity Health as Founder and Principal since 2011, providing natural products for the non-antibiotic treatment of infectious disease. Previously, he was in full-time dairy practice for 15 years with certified organic herds in the Lancaster, PA area.

Well-travelled and widely published in his field, Dr. Karreman served on the USDA National Organic Standards Board from 2005 – 2010, and was Chair of the Livestock Committee from 2007 – 2010, where he wrote recommendations for regulatory implementation by the USDA.
Recognized by his colleagues as a bridge between the organic and conventional veterinary medicine worlds, Dr. Karreman plans to be a bridge between the Rodale Institute and commercial organic livestock farmers:

"I hope to bring the Rodale Institute to organic dairy farmers regionally and globally. It's the right time to investigate natural production models that small farm holders and commercial farmers alike will be able to adopt. We will convey our observations of animal health and behavior, trends in production with different breeds and pilot studies on the farm to support the growing number of organic and natural farmers in Pennsylvania and beyond."

In his new role as Institute Veterinarian, Dr. Karreman will develop an Organic Livestock program, including animal-oriented educational programming in the shape of organic veterinary animal health workshops for commercial organic farmers on site at the Institute's research farm in Kutztown, PA, and at other colleges, universities and dairy farms nationally. Dr. Karreman assumes the responsibility for building partnerships with collaborators on pilot studies, pasture projects, and providing expertise to organic dairy farmers. He will also represent Rodale Institute at conferences and make presentations domestically and internationally.

"Dr. Karreman's wisdom and methods have grown from years of hands-on experience and study. Dairy farmers and researchers around the world continue to seek him out as the leading authority on organic veterinary animal health. He will considerably expand the scope of our research here at the Rodale Institute," says Executive Director Mark Smallwood. "We are honored to have him with us."

Since its founding in 1947 by J.I. Rodale, the Rodale Institute has been committed to groundbreaking research in organic agriculture, advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating people about how organic is the safest, healthiest option for people and the planet. The Institute is home to the Rodale Institute Farming Systems TrialTM (FST), America's longest-running side-by-side comparison of chemical and organic agriculture. Consistent results from the study have shown that organic yields match or surpass those of conventional farming. In years of drought, organic corn yields are about 30% higher. This year, 2013, marks the 33rd year of the trial. New areas of study at the Rodale Institute include rates of carbon sequestration in chemical versus organic plots, new techniques for weed suppression and organic livestock.

ABOUT RODALE INSTITUTE
Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through research and outreach. For more than sixty years, we've been researching the best practices of organic agriculture and sharing our findings with farmers and scientists throughout the world, advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating consumers about how going organic is the healthiest options for people and the planet.