General Questions to Ask a Farmer

• Are your cows fed anything be-

Asking questions is the best way to ensure that sides grass and hay?
you’re purchasing sustainably raised, healthy foods, • Are your cows ever given rBGH
and supporting sustainable farms. Here are some or any other hormone?
general questions to ask your local farmers. For more • Are your cows ever given anti-
in-depth questions, information on why you should be biotics?

asking them, and the answers you want to hear, down- EGGS
load our detailed “Questions to Ask” guides for each • How are your hens raised? On
type of farm listed below. pasture, indoors, caged?
• How much time do the hens
spend outdoors each day?
BEEF • Are your hens ever force molted?
•  Are your cows raised on pasture? • What do you feed your hens?
•  Do you feed your cows anything besides grass and hay? • Are the hens ever given anti-biotics?
•  How are your cows finished?
– If cows are finished on grain you should ask: How old HOGS
are your cows when they’re started on grain and how • How are your hogs raised? On pasture, indoors, with
long are they fed grain? proper bedding?
– Are your cows finished in a feedlot? If so, how old are • Are the hogs born on your farm?
they when they enter the feedlot? Approximately how –  If yes: Are your sows ever held in a farrowing pen?
long are they there? How many other animals are in –  If no: Do you know if your hogs’ mothers were held in
the feedlot at any given time? a farrowing pen?
•  Are your cows ever given antibiotics? • How much time do your hogs spend outdoors each day?
• Are your cows ever given hormones, steroids or other • What do you feed your hogs?
growth promoters? • Are your hogs ever given antibiotics?
• Are your hogs ever given hormones or feed additives?
POULTRY
• How are your chickens/turkeys raised? On pasture, VEGETABLES/FRUIT
indoors, confined? • Who grows the fruits and vegetables and where is the
• How much time do your chickens/turkeys spend out- farm located?
doors each day? • How big is the farm?
• What do you feed your chickens/turkeys? • Does the farmer use chemical pesticides, herbicides or
• Are your chickens/turkeys ever given antibiotics? fertilizers on the crops?
• Are they given hormones, steroids or other growth pro- • Is the farm a diversified operation, with many varieties of
moters? vegetables and fruits?
• Does the farm grow any heirloom varieties of fruits or
DAIRY vegetables?
• Are your cows raised on pasture? • Are any of the fruits or vegetables genetically engineered
varieties?

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