| Farm Name | PastureLand | |
| Rating |
(5)
|
 |
| Location | Dodge Center, MN | |
| Products | Cheese, butter (seasonal production) | |
| Market Area | Midwest | |
| Web Site | http://www.pastureland.coop/ | |
 PastureLand wrote … The cooperative's award-winning gourmet butter and artisanal cheeses are produced from the milk of family operated, organically certified grass-based dairy farms in southeastern Minnesota. Our goal is to bring to your table the finest tasting butters and cheeses that embody the full benefits of the sun>grass>cow>milk connection. PastureLand's Summer Gold salted butter has been awarded first place for two consecutive years at the prestigious American Cheese Society Competition and Judging.PastureLand members have focused on the sustainable approach for over a decade; building the soil, grass varieties and pasture ecosystems that nourish our animals. Our cows graze living pasture (and are never confined to barns or feedlots) which is richer in naturally occurring nutrients than corresponding amounts of dried hay or grain diets. Pasture farming also promotes biodiversity, helps clean surface and ground water, and protects the land from erosion. PastureLand farms are certified organic and as environmentally and socially responsible by Food Alliance." |
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| Criteria | Points | Comments |
| Ownership Structure | 90 | Cooperative |
| Milk Supply | 90 | Co-op members+Cedar Summit |
| Disclosure of Information for Verification | 100 | Full and open disclosure |
| Certifier farms | 100 | MOSA |
| Certifier processing | 100 | MOSA |
| Cows on pasture time/acreage provided | 100 | Herds are on pasture 210 days per year/1-3 ac.per cow |
| Health and longevity of cows | 100 | Very low cull rate! |
| Replacement animals only from organic farms | 100 | Closed herds |
| Antibiotics used on young cattle | 100 | Never |
| Reproductive hormones used | 100 | Never |
| Farm support oversight | 90 | Small organization-self-monitoring |
| Outside dairy ingredients purchased | 100 | None |
| TOTAL SCORE | 1170 |
FIVE COWS (Outstanding)
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