Balfour Farm
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Pittsfield, ME |
| Products | Cheese |
| Website | www.balfourfarmdairy.com |
| Market Area | ME |
| Total Score | 1600 |
They write: “Balfour Farm is a small, diversified organic dairy farm in Pittsfield, Maine. Our unique and distinctive cheeses made in small batches are made from the milk produced by our beautiful Normande cows. The multiple awards we have won locally, regionally and nationally show the quality of our cheeses. As a farmstead creamery, we control the process from pasture to plate, taking great pride in producing a wholesome product using sustainable methods. Our farm is completely off the grid, with 85% of our power generated by solar. Unique flavors are developed by aging cheeses in an underground, passively cooled vault that provides a natural environment for microbe growth development. Milking year round gives an appreciation for the seasonal changes in milk. Flavors that develop in the cheesemaking process reflect the terroir of our farm: from grassy notes in spring and summer cheeses, to richer bolder flavors from winter feeds. Whey from our cheesemaking is fed to our pig herd which produces flavorful pork cuts and value-added products like cured salami.”
| Criteria | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1600 | 5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated |
Farmstead dairies earn the most points. Corporations that have a history of skirting the organic rules receive the fewest. Ownership structure | 100 | Farmstead dairy |
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Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest. Milk Supply | 100 | All milk produced on-farm |
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100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest. Organic Production | 100 | 100% organic production |
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Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification | 100 | Full transparency |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certification | 100 | MOFGA |
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Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic. Other Labels/Standards | 100 | None |
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100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards Grass-fed | 100 | High % of grass in diet, high DMI |
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No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy Free Ration? | Unknown | |
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Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption. Pasture | 100 | Excellent pasture management |
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One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard. Times Milked | 100 | One time daily |
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Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points. Cull/death Rate | 100 | Very low cull/death rate |
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Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest. Replacements | 100 | Closed herd |
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Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves
Calves | 100 | Calves stay with mothers for a short time; group housing also used |
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Farms that prohibit antibiotics receive the most points. Farms that allow young stock to receive antibiotics (under one year), receive the fewest.
Antibiotic Use | 100 | None |
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No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes. Hormone Usage | 100 | None |
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Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines. Farm Support | 100 | Farmstead dairy |
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All ingredients sourced from inside the organization or on the farm receives the highest points. Ingredients from confinement factory farms and/or imported ingredients receive the fewest. Procurement of Ingredients | 100 | All organic ingredients |
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Various levels of extra credit given for 1) providing full organic systems plan, 2) providing details on all farms (multi-farm brands, details on largest five required), and 3) sourcing feed on-farm or domestically. Extra Credit | 0 | None |
