Eight Mile Creek Farm
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Westerlo, NY |
| Products | Chicken, turkey |
| Website | eightmilecreekfarm.com/ |
| Market Area | New York |
| Total Score | 1795 |
They say about their farm: “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 that leaves our environment in a better state of health.
Poultry is an integral part of our operation. The chickens rotate through the fields with the cows and horses and through the vegetable fields post harvest. They pick up insects, provide fertilizer and produce healthy food for people. Although they rely on us, we rely on them as well: as an important contributor to our regenerative farm.”
This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project:
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1800) | 1795 | 5-Bird Rating | Top-Rated |
Family Farms and cooperatives receive the most points. Corporations and companies with poor or negligible farm oversight receive the fewest points. Ownership structure | 100 | Farmstead (owned and operated by farm family) |
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100% organic brands receive the most points. Split operations receive fewer with increased penalties for poor segregation at the processor and farm level. Dedication to Organic Production | 100 | 100% organic production (brand does not market conventional) |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points. Transparency and Disclosure | 100 | Full and open disclosure |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certifier | 100 | Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) |
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To receive full points, flocks must number 500 birds or fewer (200 for turkeys). Flock size | 100 | Small flock sizes in mobile housing allows for high welfare for each individual bird, including small flock sizes for both chickens and turkeys. |
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No more than 1.5 lbs of bird per square foot is required for full points. Stocking Density | 100 | Space allotted is sufficient for high welfare, with low stocking densities. |
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Mobile housing receives the highest number of points. Housing Style | 100 | Mobile housing units and/or moveable fencing for both chickens and turkeys |
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Heritage varieties receive the highest number of points. Strain and/or Breed and Slaughter Age | 90 | Raises Cornish cross and “heritage” breeds, along with different varieties of turkeys, with chickens outdoors for at least 2/3rds of their lifespan (and more for turkeys) |
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Birds must spend 3/4ths or more of their lives outdoors for full points. Timing for Outdoor Access | 90 | Chickens are given outdoor access at around 4 weeks of age (when fully feathered). |
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Enrichments include but are not limited to shade structures, water, novel feedstuff (greens, mealworms, sprouted grains), and dust baths. Enrichments (outdoor and indoor) | 100 | Provides novel enrichments, including rotating through fields with other livestock. |
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Points awarded for labels that go above and beyond organic. Other Labels/Standards | 100 | Real Organic Project |
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Maximum points given for high quality, rotated pasture. Non-rotated pasture adjacent to fixed housing with lower than 90% vegetative cover receives fewer points. Outdoor Management | 100 | Truly free-ranging, rotated through multiple outdoor environments. |
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100 points for on-farm production and/or milling of feed. Fewest points given to feed that cannot be verified as domestic and/or birds get poor or no supplementation from outdoor foraging. Feed Sourcing | 95 | Obtains feed from a known domestic source, gets feed from a local organic feed supplier and grows some feed (veggies and hay) on-farm. |
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Methionine needs met by outdoor foraging receives 100 points. Synthetic supplementation receives 70 points. Synthetic Methionine | 100 | Does not supplement with synthetic methionine. |
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Under 5% cull and death rate required for full points. Cull/death Rate | 100 | Very low cull and death rates (under 5%) |
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Chicks and poults that are certified organic since hatching, or are hatched on-farm receive 100 points. Off-farm or conventional chicks and poults receive 70 points. Chick and Poult Sourcing | 70 | Purchase chicks/poults from conventional hatcheries (allowed practice in organic production) |
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No physical alterations required for full points. Permitting beak tipping results in fewer points. Physical Alterations | 100 | No physical alterations performed |
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Measures farm oversight. Farmer owned brands, or daily visits by management required for maximum points. Farm Support | 100 | Farmstead, managers are present on a daily basis |
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Non-scoring, category provided for information only. Slaughter Method (non-scoring) | Electrified stunning bath | |
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Non-scoring, category provided for information only. Soy Free Ration? (non-scoring) | No. Customers can request soy-free products | |
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Maximum transparency, sharing of the organic systems plan, and/or novel practices that sets the brand apart from the rest of the industry can result in extra credit points. Extra Credit | 50 | Provided full organic systems plan |
