Lifeline Farm

Rating
Products	Cheese, Fluid Milk
Website	https://lifelinefarm.com/
Market Area	MT
Total Score	540

Lifeline Farm did not participate in Cornucopia’s survey and investigation, which impacted their score and any information we provided here. If you are a customer of this brand, please reach out and ask them to cooperate with Cornucopia’s investigation!

They say: “Lifeline Farm is an organic farm in the heart of the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. We believe our quality feed, breeding, and care make the highest quality milk, cheese, and beef products and organic pork.”

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit))	540	3-Cow Rating | Very Good
Transparency and Disclosure	50	Did not participate but brand has a history of good 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	75	Farmstead likely single-source
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	90	Very committed to organic label
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	50	Confirmed exceeds minimum requirements but details unknown
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	50	Confirmed to meet 40% DMI and may exceed this amount
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	50	Details unknown, but high % DMI and grazing mean much of the feed is localized
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	50	Group housing likely
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	75	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	0	Unknown
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	25	Meets minimum benchmark but details unconfirmed
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	25	Meets minimum benchmark but details unconfirmed
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		Montana Department of Agriculture (MTDA)
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)		Unknown
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		None
The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances. Adjustments & Notes		None