Cool Benefits Of Eating Organic images

A few nice benefits of eating organic images I found:

A Cow on Grass
benefits of eating organic
Image by DARLA SCHOENROCK
McClelland family raise Holsteins, Jerseys and Brown Swiss cows. Their breeding philosophy has changed to a more economically compact cow that can walk further, a more pasture-based cow.

FIELD NOTES FROM THE FARM DISCOVERY TOUR EVENT:
Pasturing is the cornerstone of organic dairy. The same things that are good for us — fresh air, sunshine, exercise, eating right — are also good for cows.

Cows are ruminants. This means that they are designed to eat grass and pasture plants are the best possible food for a cow, and the best organic milk begins in the pastures where cows graze healthy, nutrient-dense plants grown in healthy soil which makes their milk nutritious and great tasting. That’s good for people and the planet.

The McClelland’s produce some of the finest artisan organic dairy products and cattle in the beautiful rolling hills of Sonoma County, California. They currently milk 800 cows and farm over 600 acres in the Two Rock Valley near Petaluma, California, which is known for its cools coastal climate that is perfect for raising cattle. The milking animals are grass fed on over 500 acres of pasture. In 2000, they decided to diversify their operation, and over a three-year period they transitioned their herd to organic practices.

The McClelland family are committed to the health and well-being of their cows, their land and their customers. They have created a farming environment where nature is a priority and their cows thrive. The family is motivated to preserve the environment in and around their dairy. The cows provide fertilizer for the native grasses on which they graze and they eliminate the need to harvest feed. The view the land as a legacy to the generations of McClellands yet to come.

The farm has always been a pasturing operation but, since they have been organic for seven years, they have gotten into intensive rotational grazing. Instead of having just a few fields for their milking cows, they rotate them through 45 smaller paddocks on 500 acres. Grazing is a big part of their operation and continues to grow. They see the benefit in cow health, their milk and in their feed costs. The grazing practices work better for the environment, as well.

They have changed their pasture content management quite a bit, too. They ware dry land farming and tinker with the mix constantly to keep grasses growing as much of the year as possible. The biggest challenge for graziers is always figuring out what worlds best in their area.

The Grass is Greener: Melinda Hemelgarn: www.organicvalley.coop/community/beyond-the-plate/the-gra…

Organic Production Enhances Milk Nutritional Quality by Composition: A United States-Wide, 18-Month Study,” Benbrook, C., et al. , PLOS One, Dec. 2013. www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.008…

Union of Concerned Scientists: Greener Pastures: How Grass Fed Beef and Milk Contribute to Healthy Eating: Pasture raised cattle produce healthier beef and milk— and a healthier environment — than their feed lot counterparts. www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/solutions/advance-sus…

The Farm Discovery Tour: ov.coop/farmdiscovery

The McClelland Farm: www.mcclellandsdairy.com/FarmTours.htm

060615 OV McClelland Farm Discovery Tour HERO
4138

A Cow On Grass!
benefits of eating organic
Image by DARLA SCHOENROCK
McClelland family raise Holsteins, Jerseys and Brown Swiss cows. Their breeding philosophy has changed to a more economically compact cow that can walk further, a more pasture-based cow.

FIELD NOTES FROM THE MCCLELLAND’S FARM DISCOVERY TOUR EVENT:

Pasturing is the cornerstone of organic dairy. The same things that are good for us — fresh air, sunshine, exercise, eating right — are also good for cows.

Cows are ruminants. This means that they are designed to eat grass and pasture plants are the best possible food for a cow, and the best organic milk begins in the pastures where cows graze healthy, nutrient-dense plants grown in healthy soil which makes their milk nutritious and great tasting. That’s good for people and the planet.

The McClelland’s produce some of the finest artisan organic dairy products and cattle in the beautiful rolling hills of Sonoma County, California. They currently milk 800 cows and farm over 600 acres in the Two Rock Valley near Petaluma, California, which is known for its cools coastal climate that is perfect for raising cattle. The milking animals are grass fed on over 500 acres of pasture. In 2000, they decided to diversify their operation, and over a three-year period they transitioned their herd to organic practices.

The McClelland family are committed to the health and well-being of their cows, their land and their customers. They have created a farming environment where nature is a priority and their cows thrive. The family is motivated to preserve the environment in and around their dairy. The cows provide fertilizer for the native grasses on which they graze and they eliminate the need to harvest feed. The view the land as a legacy to the generations of McClellands yet to come.

The farm has always been a pasturing operation but, since they have been organic for seven years, they have gotten into intensive rotational grazing. Instead of having just a few fields for their milking cows, they rotate them through 45 smaller paddocks on 500 acres. Grazing is a big part of their operation and continues to grow. They see the benefit in cow health, their milk and in their feed costs. The grazing practices work better for the environment, as well.

They have changed their pasture content management quite a bit, too. They ware dry land farming and tinker with the mix constantly to keep grasses growing as much of the year as possible. The biggest challenge for graziers is always figuring out what worlds best in their area.

The Grass is Greener: Melinda Hemelgarn: www.organicvalley.coop/community/beyond-the-plate/the-gra…

Organic Production Enhances Milk Nutritional Quality by Composition: A United States-Wide, 18-Month Study,” Benbrook, C., et al. , PLOS One, Dec. 2013. www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.008…

Union of Concerned Scientists: Greener Pastures: How Grass Fed Beef and Milk Contribute to Healthy Eating: Pasture raised cattle produce healthier beef and milk— and a healthier environment — than their feed lot counterparts. www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/solutions/advance-sus…

The Farm Discovery Tour: ov.coop/farmdiscovery

The McClelland Farm: www.mcclellandsdairy.com/FarmTours.htm

060615 OV McClelland Farm Discovery Tour HERO
IMG_4138

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