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    Farm Name Green Field Farms
    Rating (4)          Green Field Farms

    Location Fredericksburg, OH
    Products Chees
    Market Area Nationwide
    Web Site www.gffarms.com

    Green Field Farms has set up its own standards in addition to organics. There are many products that claim to be Amish. However, only our seal guarantees that a particular product is produced by our plain community farms, and upholds our standards for quality. They write:

    Each member family of Green Fields Farms follows a strict set of principles to ensure we produce high quality and wholesome food products. Traditional farming methods are maintained for two reasons. First, we want to remain good stewards of our precious land. Second, we believe there is no better way to instill core family values that raising our children on working farms that grow food for the community around us.

    Our farms grow most of their own animal feed, redistribute animal waste as earth-friendly fertilizers, and naturally control pests and weeds. Fields are cultivated with horse-drawn plows so we can constantly monitor the health or our land and crops- an impossibility when sitting atop a massive tractor. Hence, we don’t need to rely on harmful chemicals to discourage weeds and pests. In short, each farm is a small ecosystem that promotes natural ways for plants, animals and soils to thrive.

    Many of the farming techniques we use today date back to the 1600s from our Swiss and German forefathers. It all starts with our appreciation of livestock manure. While many think manure is a waste product, we know there is not a better, safer fertilized ever invented. And its free! We annually rotate our crops and use lime to sweeten the soils. Legumes are planted to naturally extract nitrogen from air and convert it to plant food. We produce an abundance of hay that is stored so our animals are well-nourished throughout the winter. And, of course, our livestock-- cows, chickens, pigs, and goats provide more manure that re-starts the growing process.

     

    Criteria Points Comments
    Ownership Structure 90 Cooperative
    Milk Supply 90 Co-op members
    Disclosure of Information for Verification 100 Full and open disclosure
    Certifier farms 100 OEFFA/GOA
    Certifier processing 100 OEFFA
    Cows on pasture time/acreage provided 100 Strong/enforced cooperative policy
    Health and longevity of cows 100 Very low cull rate!
    Replacement animals only from organic farms 75 Organic animals purchased/minority conventional
    Antibiotics used on young cattle 100 Never
    Reproductive hormones used 100 Never
    Farm support oversight 90 All dairies are visited regularly by staff
    Outside dairy ingredients purchased 100 None
    TOTAL SCORE 1145 FOUR COWS (excellent)