Engelbert Farms

Rating
Farm/Brand Headquarters	Nichols, NY
Products	Cheese
Website	www.engelbertfarms.com
Market Area	NY
Total Score	1635

Engelbert Farm Products are available in many of the local Health Food stores, found at Wineries, Cideries, and Breweries, local CSA’s and other Farm stores and Buying Clubs as well as served in many local restaurants, including Greenstar Co-operative market in Ithaca, NY. For a complete list of retailers, check out this list: https://engelbertfarms.com/in-stores-and-venues.html. Engelbert Farms is also a highly rated organic beef producer!

This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project:

Criteria	Points	Comments
TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit)	1635	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
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	Single farm
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
Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points. Disclosure of Information for Verification	100	Full disclosure
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certification	100	Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF) and NOFA-NY
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	Real Organic Project
100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards Grass-fed	80	“Pasture raised” with high DMI
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy Free Ration?		No
Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption. Pasture	90	Excellent pasture compliance
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)
Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points. Cull/death Rate	100	Very low cull rate
Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest. Replacements	100	Closed herd
Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves Calves	75	Removed shortly after birth (standard practice)
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
No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes. Hormone Usage	100	No hormones used
Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines. Farm Support	100	Single farm
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 in products
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	100	With respect to the concern of fraudulent grain imports, this dairy produces 100% of their own feed.