Engelbert Farms

Rating
Products	Cheese
Website	https://engelbertfarms.com/
Market Area	VT, NY
Total Score	980

Engelbert Farms Organic has been farming organically since 1981, and certified organic since 1984. They sold organic milk into the conventional market for 20 years until they joined CROPP Cooperative and started shipping milk to Organic Valley in August 2001. They are a Certified Organic Farm producing certified organic beef, pork, veal, cheese and vegetables at their Farm Store and Creamery. They also carry products from other local sustainable farms.
They say: “No chemicals ever used on our land or Animals!”

The Englebert Farms Farm Store is now located at the Creamery building at 263 W River Rd, Nichols, NY.

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit))	980	5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated
Transparency and Disclosure	75	Did not participate in Cornucopia’s current investigation, but with history of high transparency
Brands that rate highest have a close relationship to their milk suppliers. Those that buy milk from industrial or unknown organic suppliers rate lowest. Milk Supply and Ownership Structure	100	Farmstead dairy dedicated to organic
Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in the organic systems that benefit us all. Commitment to Organic Label	100	Strongly committed to organic integrity
Pasture management refers to how outdoor areas are managed, with top-rated brands utilizing multiple strategies to maintain high quality pasture, providing environmental and animal welfare benefits. Pasture Management	90	Far exceeds minimum benchmarks for pasturing
The grass-fed percentage category reflects diet, with top-rated brands far exceeding the minimum requirements laid out in the organic pasture rule. Grass Fed Percentage	90	High % DMI during the grazing season
This category focuses on the sourcing of feed, supplements, and any added ingredients in the diet. The category also accounts for brands that source organic dairy from other operations. Top-rated brands produce all feed on farm or buy inputs locally. Supplemental Feed and Ingredients	100	This dairy likely produces 100% of their own feed.
Industry standard is to immediately remove calves from their mothers and individually house them. High scores in this area show that brand suppliers use group housing or otherwise promote calf socialization. Calves	75	Removed shortly after birth, likley group housing
High scoring brands milk only once or twice per day, allowing maximum time for cows to be outside exhibiting natural behaviors. Times Milked Per Day	100	2x a day
Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare. Deaths & Culls	75	Likely low cull and death rate but unconfirmed
Brands that closely monitor environmental factors, including soil and water quality, native species, and wildlife, receive the most points. Brands with specific policies and programs to boost environmental sustainability also receive high points. Environmental Impacts and Stewardship	75	History of strong environmental care, but details unknown
Brands with specific policies and practices to support animal welfare score best. Brands may lose points in this category if they have a history of animal welfare concerns. Animal Welfare	75	History of high animal welfare and diversified farming practice
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		Vermont Organic Farmers (NOFA-VT).
Third-party labels carried by individual brands or product lines are listed here for more information. These are not scored, but some third-party labels may receive extra credit. Add On Labels (Informational)		Real Organic Project
Herd size refers to the number of adult cows in the milking herd. The general denotation for herd size (large, medium, and small) is based on the legal definition of “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation”. Herd Size(s) (Informational)		Small
Brands may receive extra credit for practices and polices not reflected in the scorecard (see notes for details). Extra Credit	25	Real Organic Project
The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances. Adjustments & Notes		None