Nick’s Organic Farm
Rating | |
Product offerings | Retail cuts |
Website | www.nicksorganicfarm.com |
Market area | Locally in Adamstown, MD, farm direct |
Location | Adamstown, MD |
Specialty labels | Diversified |
Participated in Survey? | Yes |
Total Score | 1085 |
NOTE: We’ve confirmed this producer is high quality, but due to difficulties finding organic processing the final meat product cannot be certified organic. Up until the point of slaughter Nick’s animals are certified organic.
This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project:
Criteria | Points | Comment |
---|---|---|
TOTAL (possible score is 1100) | 1085 | 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 | 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 | Very committed to organics |
This category is non-scoring and provided for information purposes. Organic Certifier | Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) | |
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 pasture and with forage grown on-site |
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 | Rotates pasture, hay, and row crop fields in diversified farm system |
Brands that closely monitor and manage for health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points. Environmental Stewardship | 85 | Protects waterways with buffers, monitors soil and vegetation health. 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 | Brand produces 100% of its feed ration on the farm |
Lower cull and death rates recieve more points. Cull and Death Rates | 100 | Less than 5% |
More points are given for greater frequency of contact and close management with cattle and closed herds. Oversight | 100 | Close on-site oversight of animals and production system |
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 |