Mission Mountain

Rating
Farm/Brand Headquarters	Ronan, MT
Website	www.missionmountainorganiceggs.blogspot.com
Market Area	Western Montana and Nationally
Total Score	2270

They write: “Remember in the “good old days” when you cracked open those eggs from the farm and they stood up in the skillet in a small circle with a bright orange yolk? Have we all gotten too used to the modern pale yolked eggs that run like water all the way to the edges of the pan? Revisit the flavor and the texture of the “good old days” when you try these eggs. We’ve had so many people tell us that they’d forgotten how good eggs used to taste until our eggs brought back those memories.Located in the heart of the Flathead River valley of Montana, our chickens freely range on pasture during the day, coming in to shelters to lay their eggs and roost at night. Unlike the “factory chicken farms”, which keep hens enclosed in huge buildings with less than a square foot of floor space per bird for their entire lives and eating rations of chemically grown grain and antibiotics, our hens take a break from pasturing on their natural grass diet to happily scurry around in pursuit of that hopping grasshopper or that flying bug in view of the beautiful Mission Mountains. Their diet is supplemented with certified organically grown, natural, non-soy grains on a free-choice basis, leafy and green alfalfa hay in the winter, and they drink from non-chlorinated, fresh mountain water drawn from underground water sources filtered by nature, the same as our own family drinks. Our hens lead a contented, serene life with a natural and completely organic diet which, we think you’ll notice, produces a healthier, better-tasting egg for you and your family. We comply with the strict organic standards set by the USDA and are annually inspected for compliance to be 100% “certified organic” in this small family operation.”

Criteria	Points	Comment
TOTAL (possible score is 2600)	2270	5-Egg Rating | Top Rated
Family farms and farmer cooperatives that market their own eggs receive the most points. Corporations that do not produce any eggs receive the fewest points. Ownership Structure	100	family farm, produce 100% of eggs
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards. Average Flock Size	80	flocks are 1,001-3,000 birds in size
Single henhouses receive the most points. Single or Double Henhouses	100	single
Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic. Other Certifications (bonus points)	0	none
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certifier	100	Montana Dept. of Ag.
Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points. Commitment to Organics	100	100% organic
More than 1.8 square feet per bird receives the most points, less than 1.2 square feet receives the fewest. Indoor Space per Bird	80	1.7-1.8 sq ft/hen
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments	100	perches, dust baths, scratching,, pasture access
Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management	80	litter freshened often, some pasture access
Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points. Natural Light	80	some natural light via windows
Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Space per Bird	80	100 sq ft/hen
Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points. Popholes/Exit to the Outdoors	80	one door for every 251-500 hens
Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments	60	shade
Farms that can ensure outdoor access year round or those that only confine birds during inclement weather receive the most points. Outdoor Space Exemptions	90	outdoor access except during inclement weather
Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points. Outdoor Management System	70	fixed house with rotated pastures
Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points. Manure Handling System	100	composted and applied on-farm
Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting	100	no forced molting
Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points. Beak Trimming	100	no beak trimming
Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points. Laying Hen Lifespan	60	18 months old
Farms where spent hens die a natural death, are sold for meat, or are processed and sold for human consumption, receive the most points. Use of Spent Hens	100	sold live for food, eggs
Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points. Death Loss Rate	100	less than 1% annually
Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points. Pullets	80	raise up from day old chicks
Farms that allow pullets access to the outdoors within the first 6 weeks of life, or within 6-10 weeks, receive the most points. Pullet Access to Outdoors	80	6-8 weeks of age
Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points. Feed Produced on Farm	80	some grain produced on the farm
Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points. US Grown Feed	100	all domestically grown
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy in Feed	No	no soy in feed ration
Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids	70	No more than 2 lbs per ton
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points. Disclosure Rate	100	full disclosure