Roger’s Farmstead
Rating | |
Farm/Brand Headquarters | Berlin, VT |
Products | Fluid milk |
Website | www.rogersfarmstead.com/ |
Market Area | New England |
Total Score | 1495 |
This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project:
Criteria | Points | Comments |
---|---|---|
TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1495 | 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 | 60 | Limited Liability Company |
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 | Farmstead Dairy |
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 biodynamic/organic |
Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification | 90 | Good disclosure |
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certification | 100 | NOFA |
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 | 100% DMI from pasture during grazing season |
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy Free Ration? | No answer | |
Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption. Pasture | 100 | 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 | Low cull rate |
Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest. Replacements | 90 | Organically-managed replacement animals |
Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves
Calves | 85 | Calves raised first few weeks with mothers |
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 | Lives on premises |
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 |
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 | 0 | None |