Butterworks Farm
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Westfield, VT |
| Products | Yogurt, A2 milk |
| Website | www.mycadia.com/subcategories.php?p=Food&c=Dairy |
| Market Area | VT, NH |
| Total Score | 1455 |
Jack and Anne Lazor are two longtime heroes in the organic farming community. In addition to manufacturing Vermont’s “most popular yogurt,”for decades, they’ve helped educate younger farmers and dairy producers transitioning to organic.
They write: “Butterworks Farm is a real farm, located in the mountains of Vermont’s pristine and unspoiled Northeast Kingdom. We are unique among New England organic dairies and yogurt makers for a number of reasons. We’ve been farming organically for 25 years and are always willing to share our knowledge and experience… We grow all the food our cows eat, including corn, oats, barley, soybeans, and alfalfa. All of our cows were born here on the farm. We have a closed herd, which means we don’t buy cows from other farms. Since 1975, during our first days as homesteaders with just a family cow, we have made our yogurt right here on the farm. We use only our own milk to produce this delicious yogurt. Our soils are sweet and mineralized. The extra special “nutty” flavor of our whole yogurt begins with the land we farm.”
Butterworks Farm products can be found at co-ops, health food stores, smaller grocery markets and a few chain stores near their farm location in Vermont and neighboring New Hampshire. Black River Produce of Springfield, Vermont does some Vermont distribution for us as well. Some of their products are sold to and distributed around the Northeast by UNFI (United Natural Foods). Also find them in most Whole Foods Markets in the North Atlantic region.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1455 | 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 | 95 | Gets some milk from another farm with matching practices |
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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 | Brand only markets organic |
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Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification | 100 | Full disclosure |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certification | 100 | Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF) |
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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 | 0 | None |
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100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards Grass-fed | 90 | 100% grass-fed |
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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? | Yes | |
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Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption. Pasture | 100 | Respected leaders in rotational grazing |
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One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard. Times Milked | 90 | Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies) |
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Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points. Cull/death Rate | 100 | Very low cull 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 | 80 | Calves spend the first week spent with mothers |
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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 | No antibiotic use |
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No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes. Hormone Usage | 100 | No hormones used |
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Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines. Farm Support | 100 | Lives on premises |
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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 | No outside ingredients used |
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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 |
