Green Field Farms
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Fredericksburg, OH |
| Products | Cheese |
| Website | www.gffarms.com |
| Market Area | Nationwide |
| Total Score | 1237 |
They say: “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 it’s 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 | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2700) | 1237 | 4-Cow Rating | Excellent |
| Ownership structure | 90 | Farmer-owned co-operative |
| Milk Supply | 90 | Sourced from trusted co-operative |
| Organic Production | 100 | Brand only markets organic |
| Disclosure of Information for Verification | 100 | Full disclosure |
| Organic Certification | 92 | OEFFA and QAI |
| Other Labels/Standards | 0 | None |
| Grass-fed | 50 | Exceeds USDA percent intake requirements |
| Soy Free Ration? | No | |
| Pasture | 70 | Most supplier farms do some more-than-average grazing |
| Times Milked | 90 | Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies) |
| Cull/death Rate | 75 | Moderate cull/death rate |
| Replacements | 50 | Conventional cattle may be rotated into organic dairy herds |
| Calves | 70 | Removed shortly after birth (standard practice) |
| Antibiotic Use | 100 | No antibiotic use |
| Hormone Usage | 100 | No hormone use |
| Farm Support | 70 | Depends on third-party for supervision and visits farms occasionally |
| Procurement of Ingredients | 90 | Any outside ingrediants come from milk of integrity |
| Extra Credit | 0 | None |