OUR PRACTICES

USDA Certified Organic

Our Farm and Livestock are USDA Certified Organic. We raise heritage pigs, pasture broiler chickens, free range laying hens, small grains, hay, and sweet corn. To be USDA Certified Organic we must follow the National Organic Program standards. We must have an organic system plan filed each year. This system plan is reviewed by and third party inspector and they also make an annual farm visit/inspection along with going though our records. They will also make unannounced farm visits from time to time. We must also get approval for all inputs/materials used.  Being Organic is more than just feeding organic grain. It encompasses the soil, buildings, feed, bedding, and much more.

 

 

Raised on our Family Farm

We only sell the the products we produce and raise on our farm. These are the same products we feed our family.1. Heritage Pigs: We are a small Iowa Farrow to Finish family farm. Which means our pigs are born and raised their entire life on our farm. We do not buy feeder pigs or pork from another source and resell it.2. Pasture Broiler Chickens: All of our chickens are raised on our farm by our family from day old chicks.3. Free Range Laying Hens / Eggs: We have a small laying flock of hens. These Eggs are still collected, cleaned and packaged by hand on our farm.

 

 

Heritage Berkshire Cross Pork

We use Berkshire boars and breed them to crossbreed sows. The sows have a mix of the following breeds. Berkshire, Duroc, and Gloucester Old Spot, The piglets are at least 50% Berkshire or more.

  1. Berkshires are a heritage breed of pig that originated in the English county of Berkshire. It’s known for its marbling, which gives it a rich, tender flavor. Berkshire pork is known for its juiciness, tenderness, and rich flavor. Berkshire pork is often used in high-end restaurants and gourmet food stores. It’s also high in essential vitamins and minerals.
  2. Durocs originated in the United States and is a cross between two other pig breeds, the Red Jersey and the Duroc-Jersey. It was first developed in the 1800s and quickly became popular with farmers. We use old line Duroc genetics which have been tested for meat quality. Duroc pork is known for its juicy, flavorful taste and tenderness. It’s also high in protein and contains essential vitamins and minerals. Duroc pork is commonly found in various dishes, from barbeque to gourmet cuisine
  3. Gloucester Old Spots come form the Gloucester region in England. Old Spots pigs are known for their docility, intelligence, prolificity, and hardiness. The sows are known for large litters and high milk production.

 

 

No Added Hormones

The products we sell have "No Added Hormones". We are not allowed to use the term "No Hormones" nor should anybody because livestock have natural hormones.

 

 

Organic Feed / Non-GMO

The feed we use to feed our livestock is USDA Certified Organic Feed. All USDA Organic Feed must be Non-GMO. Some of the feed we use is grown own our family farm. The feed we buy comes from a Local, family owned USDA Certified Organic Feed mill. The feed mill sources USDA Certified Organic grain from local farmers as much as they can. This feed mill is located about 5 miles from our family farm.

 

 

Antibiotic Free

None of our pigs that are sold as USDA Certified Organic have been given Antibiotics at any time during their lives. If an animal gets sick we are required by USDA Certified Organic standards to treat the sick animal if organic methods/treatments do not work first. If the animal is treated with a non organic method/treatment such as an antibiotic, the animal can no longer be sold as organic and must be sold by other means. This is why it is even more important for us to use preventative methods and good animal husbandry.

 

 

Outdoor Access and Deep Bedded in Straw

Our Pigs, Broilers and Laying Hens are raised in the open air and have year around outdoor access. The pigs have mud wallows in the summer to stay cool and deep bedded USDA Certified straw to stay warm in the winter. The broilers are finished on pasture. The laying hens have access to the outdoors and green grass. Our buildings meet and/or exceed the USDA Organic building material and space requirements for all of our livestock. The ground that our livestock are raised on is also USDA Certified Organic.

 

 

Locally Processed

Our Pigs are processed at a Federally Licensed and Inspected Small Family Locally Owned Locker. Our Broilers are processed in a Federally Licensed and Inspected Certified Organic Facility.  Our freezer storage is also also licensed and inspected by the State of Iowa. All of this and the production methods are inspected by a third party so you can have confidence in what you are buying from our family farm.

 

 

Certified Organic Pasture Chicken

Our Broilers are USDA Certified Organic and Pastured Raised. They are fed Organic feed and have daily access to fresh air and grass. They are processed in a Federally Inspected and Organic Certified processing facility. The chickens are stored in a licensed and inspected facility/freezers. All of this and the production methods are inspected by a third party so you can have confidence in what you are buying from  our family farm.

 

 

Free Range Laying Hens/Eggs

We have a small laying flock made up of multiple breeds. Our hens and eggs are USDA Certified Organic. They are feed Organic feed and have daily access to fresh air and grass. They have Organic straw in their chicken Coop to scratch through. The eggs are gathered, cleaned and packaged by hand by our family. Egg are cleaned and stored according to USDA Organic standards. All of this is inspected by a third party so you can have confidences in what you are buying.