Poultry Standards
1) All chickens raised for sale through Whole Farm Coop are Free
Range. This is defined as follows: Chickens shall be kept
in a poultry shelter with access pasture for foraging during daylight
hours.
2) Feed shall be clean whole or ground grains with appropriate
nutrients, proteins (fish meal is suggested), and forage.
3) No growth hormones or sub-therapeutic medications shall be used.
4) Eggs: The same basic standards apply to layers as to
broilers. During the Winter months chickens must be supplied with
adequate space (no caging at all), bedding for scratching and nesting.
Beef Standards
Grain Supplemented
1) Animals shall be born and raised from birth on your farm, or bought
directly from a farmer who adheres to these standards.
2) No hormones or sub-therapeutic antibiotics shall be fed or otherwise
administered. No therapeutic antibiotics shall be administered
after one year of age.
3) Pastured during the growing season, 5 months/year minimum, on
growing annual or perennial pasture.
4) Grain supplementation during finishing limited to 5#/head per
day with balance ration of pasture, hay, haylage, or grass
silage. Alternatively, mature corn or sorghum-sudan silage
supplementation limited to 10#/head per day with balance ration of
pasture, dry hay, haylage or grass silage.
Grassfed (seasonal)
1) Same as for Grain Supplemented, except
for:
2) Finishing period (last 90 days) to be entirely on growing pasture
with no silage or hay.
Vegetable and Fruit Standards
Our aim is to bring our customers healthy, clean, high quality fruits
and vegetables.
To do this Whole Farm Coop producers will not use any artificial or
manufactured chemicals on their plants or soil. They will not use
GMO (genetically modified organism) or treated seeds.
Our producers will strive to improve the health of our farms by using
the following practices:
1) Crop rotation
2) Composting
3) Green Manure Crops
4) Prevention of Soil Erosion by wind and water