Upstate Farms (Upstate Niagara Coop.)
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Buffalo, NY |
| Products | Fluid milk |
| Website | www.upstatefarms.com |
| Market Area | NY, PA |
| Total Score | 1070 |
| Criteria | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1070 | 3-Cow Rating | Very Good |
Farmstead dairies earn the most points. Corporations that have a history of skirting the organic rules receive the fewest. Ownership structure | 90 | Farmer-owned cooperative |
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Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest. Milk Supply | 85 | Cooperative milk supply with a few outside suppliers |
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100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest. Organic Production | 70 | Brand markets organic and conventional products |
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Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification | 60 | Partial disclosure |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certification | 90 | Farms certified by NOFA-NY, NOFA-VT, PCO, ECO-CERT ICO, and Global Organic Alliance (GOA); Plants certified by QAI |
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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 | 0 | None |
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100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards Grass-fed | 50 | Does not market grassfed; meets minimum standards |
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No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy Free Ration? | No | |
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Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption. Pasture | 50 | Meets minimum standards for pasture |
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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); some farms use robotic milkers |
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Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points. Cull/death Rate | 0 | No answer |
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Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest. Replacements | 90 | Most farms are closed herd |
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Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves
Calves | 75 | Remove calf from mother shortly after birth (standard practice) |
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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 used |
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No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes. Hormone Usage | 50 | Reproductive hormones may be used therapeutically |
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Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines. Farm Support | 90 | Field staff visit farms multiple times per year |
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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 | 80 | Some outside ingredients purchased on open market |
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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 |
