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 | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600) | 1237 | 4-Cow Rating | Excellent |
 Farmstead dairies who live on-site (or work their own dairy daily) receive top points for this category. No transparency and/or no answer receive no points. Ownership structure | 90 | Farmer-owned co-operative |
| Farmstead dairies and well-managed cooperatives with only their own patrons get top points in this category. Fewer points go to brands that have less control over their milk supply. Milk Supply | 90 | Sourced from trusted co-operative |
| Brands that do not also market any conventional products receive top points in this category. Brands that are less dedicated to organics receive fewer points. Organic Production | 100 | Brand only markets organic |
| The best transparency toward Cornucopia investigators is rewarded by full points. Disclosure of Information for Verification | 100 | Full disclosure |
| If a top-rated organic certifier certifies this brand they receive full points. Certifiers with questionable practices receive fewer points. Organic Certification | 92 | OEFFA and QAI |
| If this brand has other third-party labels, particularly animal-welfare labels, that will provide them extra points in this category depending on the particular label and its standards. Other Labels/Standards | 0 | None |
| 100% Grass-fed with independent verification or independent standards to ensure compliance will receive full points in this category. Other points are attributed to how much forage composes the dairy cows’ diets. Grass-fed | 50 | Exceeds USDA percent intake requirements |
| No point value – this information is offered for buyers interested in milk from cows without soy in their diets. Soy Free Ration? | No | |
| Rating based on (a) policies of brand, (b) enforcement/oversight (c) acreage available per cow, (d) average days on pasture (e) investigative actions. Pasture | 70 | Most supplier farms do some more-than-average grazing |
| Where cows are milked one to two times per day they receive top points. It's standard organic protocol to milk two times a day. Dairies that milk three-to-four times a day is one indicator of factory-organics. Times Milked | 90 | Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies) |
| A cull and/or death rate under 10% annually receives full points. Cull/death Rate | 75 | Moderate cull/death rate |
| Closed herd (meaning the brand raises all their replacement cattle) receives full points. If conventional animals are purchased, the brand receives fewer points. Replacements | 50 | Conventional cattle may be rotated into organic dairy herds |
| If this brand has a unique way of managing calves they receive more points. If they remove the calf shortly after birth (the standard practice) they receive 70 points. Calves | 70 | Removed shortly after birth (standard practice) |
| When the brand prohibits all antibiotic use they receive full points. No answer receives no points. Antibiotic Use | 100 | No antibiotic use |
| When no hormones are used on farm(s) this brand receives full points. When the brand uses hormones therapeutically post-birth the brand receives 50 points. Hormone Usage | 100 | No hormone use |
| Farmstead dairies (lives on site) get full points and cooperative/corporations that set standards and have staff that visit the supplying dairies also receive top points. No direct supervision and/or personal relationship with farm(s) gets low or no points. Farm Support | 70 | Depends on third-party for supervision and visits farms occasionally |
| Full control of any added ingredients (100% come from within organization) receives top points. Dairy ingredients purchased from a number of different vendors (with less direct control) receives fewer points in this category. Procurement of Ingredients | 90 | Any outside ingrediants come from milk of integrity |
| Several questions were asked in addition to the original survey questions that would ultimately give producers “extra credit” points. Look for details in individual brand explanations. Extra Credit | 0 | None |