Eight Mile Creek Farm

Rating
Product offerings	Retail cuts, ground
Website	www.eightmilecreekfarm.com
Market area	Farm direct, CSA, online
Location	Westerlo, NY
Specialty labels	Real Organic Project
Participated in Survey?	Yes
Total Score	1100

They say: “Eight Mile Creek Farm believes that through diversification of both plant and animal species, we have created, and continue to improve on, a sustainable system that works to produce healthy food for our community and which leaves our environment in a better state of health.

Established in 2005, Eight Mile Creek Farm sits upon 223 acres (plus 120 acres leased for hay production) tucked away on a dirt road in Westerlo, NY in the Heldeberg Hilltowns. The house and barns were originally built in 1835. From that time until the 1950’s it was a working family farm, transitioning into low-scale agricultural production for hay in the mid-1950’s. Pam set out to restore the land as a productive working farm in 2005 by building a diversified agricultural business. She has obtained, and maintains, the farm’s annual organic certification, providing customers with the healthiest products available. Additionally, Pam works hard to protect and nurture the natural resources that their farm depends on for survival. She raises certified organic grass-fed beef, pork, chicken and pastured eggs year-round and the animals receive no growth hormones, antibiotics or medications.”

This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project:

Criteria	Points	Comment
TOTAL (possible score is 1100)	1100	5-Steak
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points. Transparency and Disclosure	100	Superb transparency
Family farms and farmer cooperatives that market their own beef receive the most points. Corporations that do not directly produce any beef receive the fewest points. Ownership History	100	Family farm/ranch
Beef sourced from a single operation receives the most points. Beef of unclear origins and/or with poor oversight receives the fewest points. Beef Supply	100	Sources from a single farm/ranch source
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	Only certified organic and grass fed
This category is non-scoring and provided for information purposes. Organic Certifier		NOFA NY
Animal Welfare Approved, Real Organic Project, and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic. Other Labels and Standards	100	Real Organic Project
100% grass-fed and finished or cattle finished with site-grown supplement receives the most points. Cattle finished exclusively in a feedlot receive the fewest points. Beef Finishing	100	Finished on hay/balage, without grain
Points are awarded for quantity of time cattle are on pasture above and beyond what the USDA requires, and for the quality and care of the pasture. Pasture and Grazing Management	100	100% grass-fed with 100% from pasture during the grazing season, re-seeding and rotational management
Brands that closely monitor and manage for health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points. Environmental Stewardship	100	Implements conservation plans on farm, monitors water and soil and vegetation very closely, does not graze riparian zones. Designated wildlife and pollinator habitat. Does not use public lands
Cattle finished on pasture or on feed that is grown on-farm or procured locally receive the most points. Feed of unknown origin, or known to be imported, receives the fewest points. Feed Sourcing	100	All feed produced on-site, closed loop system
Lower cull and death rates recieve more points. Cull and Death Rates	100	Very low cull rate, less than 5%
More points are given for greater frequency of contact and close management with cattle and closed herds. Oversight	100	Close daily oversight of animal care and closed herd
Brands may receive extra credit for above and beyond transparency, or special practices not otherwise covered in the scorecard (see description for an explanation). Extra credit	0	None