Nick’s Organic Farm

Rating
Product offeringsRetail cuts
Websitewww.nicksorganicfarm.com
Market areaLocally in Adamstown, MD, farm direct
LocationAdamstown, MD
Specialty labelsDiversified
Participated in Survey?Yes
Total Score1085

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:

real organic project logo

CriteriaPointsComment
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
100Superb 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
100Family 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
100Single 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
100Very 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
100Real 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
100Finished 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
100Rotates 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
85Protects 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
100Brand produces 100% of its feed ration on the farm
Lower cull and death rates recieve more points.
Cull and Death Rates
100Less than 5%
More points are given for greater frequency of contact and close management with cattle and closed herds.
Oversight
100Close 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
0None