Lee and Georgia Ranney and their cattle and egg laying hens are living the good life on Kinderhook Farm in Valatie, New York. “When we first started with the farm,” Lee says, “there was minimal fencing and pasture water, so we knew we had our work cut out for us to move to an intensive rotational grazing system. It’s been five years of hard work, putting up miles of fencing and placing water systems but it’s all been worth it. We really wanted to get the animals outside on pasture where they belong.”

Last month, Animal Welfare Approved farmer Rose Marie Belforti of Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery was interviewed by Lorenzo Ragionieri for the Heritage Radio Network’s Farm Report.

Interview highlights include:

* The unique traits of the Irish Dexter cow
* Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery’s strict animal welfare husbandry practices
* Pro-biotic Kefir Cheese -why it’s so special and what does Pro-biotic mean?

For more information on the Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery and to order their cheese visit [...]

Chef Noah Sheetz recently visited Kinderhook Farm in Ghent, NY and he was so impressed by the farm that he blogged about his experience. Noah said, “It undoubtedly is one of the cleanest and most picturesque farms in all of Columbia County.”

Noah is a strong advocate for supporting local NY farmers and has more recently started educating children about eating healthier foods.

Below we’ve included a snippet of Noah’s recipe which showcases Kinderhook Farm’s Animal Welfare Approved beef ribs:

Honey and Chili Glazed Beef Ribs with Creamed Swiss Chard and Potatoes

There was something about the simple life of farming that drew in Teresa and David Folsom. They hadn’t grown-up with it, but after spending time in Amish communities and appreciating the practical and wholesome lifestyle, the two leapt at an opportunity to begin their own farm. Teresa and David raise grassfed cattle, sheep, and laying hens on their farm. For controlling weeds and woody plants in the pasture they also have three donkeys and three goats that are eager to help.

Terry and Laurie Carlson, along with their grandson Brian and 38 dairy goats, work as a team, making raw milk aged cheeses on a seasonal basis. It’s a small-scale farm in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. The family sells at farmers markets, outlets in Portland, and at an on-site farmstand.

David cooking for the Animal Welfare Approved Thanksgiving Dinner at the Food Bank for NYC
One of our favorite chefs, David Schuttenberg of Cabrito restaurant in NYC, was interviewed by Patrick Martins, Heritage Foods USA, for his Heritage Radio show last month.rnrnSome of the topics discussed included:

Animal Welfare Approved’s Supply Chain Summit in Alfred, NY
Why the [...]

GRANTS OF UP $5,000 TO FOCUS ON OUTDOOR ACCESS, GENETICS AND IMPROVING SLAUGHTER FACILITIES

President of the Animal Welfare Institute Cathy Liss and Animal Welfare Approved Program Director Andrew Gunther are pleased to announce the 2009 Animal Welfare Approved grant cycle. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for the sole purpose of improving farm animal welfare, with a concentration on three areas: increased outdoor access, improved genetics and improved slaughter facilities. Current Animal Welfare Approved farmers and those who have applied to join the program are eligible, and farmers may apply for certification and for a grant simultaneously. The deadline for applying is October 1, 2009.

ALERT 1: HIGH WELFARE DOESN”T ALWAYS EQUAL HIGH COST

Tips for Shopping for Affordable Products from Animals Raised Outdoors with High Welfare Standards
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Animal Welfare Approved is pleased to announce the launch of a series of monthly consumer alerts to assist shoppers in understanding, locating and purchasing products from family farmers who utilize sustainable [...]

Yesterday we mentioned the new film, Food, Inc., in which Michael Pollan and director Robert Kenner explore the unseen costs of the food we eat. The upcoming movie promises viewers that they will “never look at dinner the same way again,” likely prompting viewers to seek alternatives to the industrial system it exposes.
However, many fear [...]

Food Inc., a new movie by Robert Kenner featuring Michael Pollan, debuts in select theaters this weekend and opens next week nationwide. The LA Times says it is “one movie that truly provides food for thought” while the New York Times calls it “eat-your-peas cinema that could make viewers not want to eat anything at [...]