Miller Farm

Rating
Products	Fluid Milk
Website	https://www.vtmillerfarm.com/
Market Area	Northeast
Total Score	880

They say: “Our milk is non-homogenized, 80% A2A2, 100% delicious, and made with love.”

Miller Farm products can be found at pretty much every general store in Windham county. They also supply many reputable coops and independently owned stores and groceries throughout the Northeast, as well as several public schools, independent schools, food shelves, cafes, and hospitals.

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit))	880	5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated
Transparency and Disclosure	100	Excellent transparency with a history of integrity
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 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	100	Independent organic farm very dedicated to 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	Meeting minimum organic requirements for pasture standards
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	35	Meets a minimum of 30% DMI (for milking cows)
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	Organic milk powder (for soft-serve) sourced from high integrity supplier
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	80	Calves are always group housed with a minimum of two calves together
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	25	3x a day
Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare. Deaths & Culls	100	Low cull/death rate
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	100	Excellent attention to environment, including working with worked with Vermont Audubon to create a protected area
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	90	Good attention to animal welfare
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF)
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)		Certified Humane
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