A Greener World's Sustainable Farming Magazine -- Spring 2023 – V8 I1

VOLUME 8 | ISSUE 1 SPRING 2023 | $9 

FLOCK STARS 

MANAGING SHEEP DOGS 

ON YOUR FARM 

PLUS 

SOIL CARBON AND SOIL HEALTH 

LIVESTOCK WATER QUALITY 

WHAT IS A ‘NON-COMPLIANCE’?

EXCITING TIMES 

GREEN BACKING 

I’m thrilled to share 

that AGW was awarded 

a grant from the USDA 

through the Partnerships 

for Climate Smart 

Commodities program, 

working alongside the 

Rural Advancement 

Foundation 

International–USA and the Soil Health Institute. 

Over the next three years, we expect the project 

to bring new farms into the Certified Regenerative 

by AGW and Certified Animal Welfare Approved 

by AGW programs, as well as new opportunities 

for farms and businesses with existing AGW 

certifications. We look forward to demonstrating 

the real climate benefits of regenerative agriculture 

and expanding the AGW family through this 

project. 

The Winter 2023 event season was a full one, 

with AGW attendance at EcoFarm Conference 

and Natural Products Expo West, the Accredited 

Certifiers Association training, Pasa Sustainable 

Agriculture Conference and more. It’s great to talk 

with people face to face, spreading the word about 

AGW’s certifications and your products. 

As you all know, the food label landscape is 

growing even more crowded these days. Marketing 

buzzwords change as fast as the seasons, but 

independent third-party certifications like ours 

provide a way to find trusted labels and bring 

positive change to the marketplace. We expect 

regenerative certification to complement the 

progress made by many pioneering organic farms 

and look forward to expanding the collective 

impact of both approaches. 

Thanks to all who participated in our 2022 

Producer Survey. It’s one way you can let us know 

how we’re doing, what you need, ideas you have, 

and what we can do better. We’re reviewing the 

results (we really read every response) and will 

use the collected data to shape AGW’s services 

and programs. Look out for an update about 

actions driven by your feedback. 

Extreme weather was one of your toughest 

challenges in 2022. Our regional coordinators try 

to be in touch by phone or email, but we know 

we can miss things happening on the ground 

—especially with the increasing frequency and 

severity of extreme weather events. If there’s 

anything going on in your area—whether it’s 

drought, flooding, wildfires, hurricanes—we 

want to know so we can do our best to help. 

Throughout 2023, you can expect to see 

a concerted focus by AGW on supply chain 

development and recruitment of brands and 

further processors, along with enhanced supply 

chain services. Our goal is to bring a higher level 

of transparency to the marketplace at scale, 

starting at the farm. We’re excited about the 

opportunities ahead and look forward to 

working with you. 

Emily Moose 

Executive Director 

A Greener World 

Sustainable Farming 

Spring 2023 

Volume 8 / Issue 1 

Cover price $9 

sustainablefarming 

mag.com 

Editor: Peter Mundy 

info@agreenerworld.org 

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Read our blog at 

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New project 

to expand 

regenerative 

market 

access 

ISTOCK 

AGW has received up to $4 million in USDA 

grant funding for an exciting 3-year project to 

expand access to regenerative farming markets. 

Working with partners Rural Advancement 

Foundation International-USA and Soil Health 

Institute, AGW will lead the project, which seeks 

to assist small and underserved farmers and 

ranchers with climate-smart regenerative farm 

planning and emissions reduction plan design, 

as well as incentivizing participation and climatesmart 

practice implementation. The project is 

a part of the second funding pool of the USDA’s 

Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities, 

a historic $325 million federal investment in 

71 new agriculture projects. 

“We are thrilled to team up with RAFI-USA, 

Soil Health Institute, and the farmers, partners 

and businesses joining this project to 

positively impact agriculture and 

increase access to regenerative 

farming resources and markets 

for underserved producers,” 

says Emily Moose, AGW’s 

Executive Director. 

“Our plan is designed 

to increase accessibility 

to regenerative 

farming practices 

and help underserved 

and small 

producers access 

new and existing 

markets,” adds 

RAFI-USA Executive 

Director, Edna Rodriguez. 

“We look forward to serving as a technical 

partner to provide standard methods for 

measuring soil carbon, scaling soil health 

assessment, and collecting quality verification 

data,” says Dr. Dianna Bagnall, SHI’s research 

soil scientist. 

As part of the project, AGW will also 

provide customized marketing support to 

project participants with their certification, as 

well as offering support in becoming Certified 

Regenerative, enabling producers to access new 

climate-smart markets and sell commodities 

for a higher premium. RAFI-USA and SHI will 

work alongside AGW to assist farmers,ranchers 

and landowners, with RAFI-USA providing 

technical support in regenerative plan development 

and SHI providing practical and scientific 

expertise in soil health analysis and 

measurement. 

The project will also recruit 

small and underserved farmers 

and ranchers throughout 

the Southeastern U.S. and 

provide technical, financial 

and marketing support on 

their journey towards 

regenerative 

farming and 

certification. 

For more 

information on 

the status of the 

project, please sign up 

for email updates from AGW. 

IN THE 

NEWS … 

LAB MEAT LOOMS 

Lab-grown meat is one step closer to hitting U.S. 

supermarket shelves, following an assessment 

by the FDA of information submitted by UPSIDE 

Foods as part of a Pre-Market Consultation for 

its integral tissue cultured poultry meat products. 

While FDA stressed that “the voluntary premarket 

consultation is not an approval process,” 

it found that “foods comprised of or containing 

cultured chicken cell material resulting from the 

production process … are as safe as comparable 

foods produced by other methods.” 

MEAT CLAIMS COUNT 

Two-thirds of U.S. consumers purchase meat 

based on claims, according to research by 

Midan Marketing. 

While price continues to be a major 

consideration, 68% of beef consumers look 

for production claims or premium attributes 

at least some of the time when shopping. This 

trend is further supported by the Food Marketing 

Institute, which found that 63% of consumers like 

to know more about the who, what, where and 

how behind the food they buy. 

QR CODE UNLAWFUL 

The USDA’s decision to allow genetically 

engineered (GMO) foods to be labeled with 

a QR code was unlawful, a U.S. District Court 

has ruled. The decision means USDA must now 

add additional disclosure options for GM foods 

listed under USDA’s National Bioengineered Food 

Disclosure Standard. “In a world where transparent 

labels are increasingly hard to come by, we’re glad 

to see some progress towards more meaningful 

labels for consumers,” says Katie Amos, AGW’s 

Director of Communications and Outreach. 

PROMO BROCHURE 

A new consumer-focused brochure about AGW's 

Certified Regenerative program is now available 

to certified farmers and ranchers. 

Part of AGW's promotional merchandise 

range, the tri-fold brochure describes AGW’s 

third-party certification using easy-tounderstand 

information and eye-catching 

images, and is designed to show customers 

the benefits of AGW’s newest certification. 

To order, visit agreenerworld.org/ 

shop-agw/shop-agw-merchandise 

2 • SUSTAINABLE FARMING • SPRING 2023 

SPRING 2023 • SUSTAINABLE FARMING • 3

IN THE NEWS … 

IRENE CAMERLINK 

GLOBAL POSITIVE WELFARE PROJECT 

AGW is now part of a pan-global project to 

promote positive farm animal welfare. 

Funded by the European Union, the EU COST 

Action LIFT CA21124 project is a 4-year pan-global 

initiative to identify, define and promote practical 

measures of positive farm animal welfare. 

“We're delighted to be involved in this project 

and to offer the perspective of a farm certifier," 

says Wayne Copp, who is representing AGW. "The 

traditional approach to animal welfare has always 

been to prevent suffering, so most current welfare 

assessments are simply focused on identifying 

'negative' welfare indicators on farm. But recent 

advances in science and understanding are leading 

to considerations of positive experiences, also 

referred to as ‘positive welfare’, which is also more 

in line with consumer expectations." 

The problem is that there is no current 

consensus on what positive animal welfare 

indicators are, or what kinds of techniques, tests 

and procedures represent sound methodologies 

to assess positive experiences in farmed animals. 

With representatives of over 30 countries 

from industry, government and NGOs, as well as 

veterinary organizations and farm advisory bodies, 

the project aims to define positive farm animal 

welfare and identify practical methods for use 

on farm and in farm animal welfare assessment 

programs. 

“We're honored that AGW was invited to join 

the project and will report back on ongoing 

progress in the near future," adds Copp. 

TOP OF 

THE TABLAS 

AGW-certified 

Tablas Creek 

Vineyard of 

Paso Robles, 

CA, has won the 

Environment 

Award in the 2023 

California Green 

Medal Sustainable 

Winegrowing 

Leadership Awards. 

The annual award is 

given to businesses 

in California that 

are leading the way 

in environmental 

stewardship and 

implementing 

sustainable 

practices. “Tablas 

Creek Vineyard 

demonstrates 

an unparalleled 

stewardship to 

the environment 

through leadingedge 

practices 

and certifications,” 

according to 

the report. Our 

congratulations 

to the team! 

AGW EXPO-SURE 

AGW was invited to exhibit at Climate Day 

at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, 

California in March. 

With an audience of more than 60,000 

natural food industry professionals and 3,000 

exhibitors including AGW-certified Truly Grassfed, 

Zeal Creamery and a2 Milk Company, Expo West is 

one of the world’s leading sustainable food events. 

Consumer research data from SPINS shows that 

46% of consumers say third-party or independent 

source certification is important, with threequarters 

of sustainable shoppers using labels or 

third-party certifications to confirm a company 

or product’s sustainable credentials. 

“We were invited to exhibit at Climate Day 

at Expo West, a day hosted by the Climate 

Collaborative and dedicated to inspiring 

connections and positive climate action,” 

says Callie Casteel, AGW’s Farmer and Market 

Outreach Coordinator. “AGW represented 

sustainable solutions in agriculture and staff 

connected with hundreds of attendees about the 

benefits of third-party certification, supply chain 

verification and other AGW program offerings.” 

2022 IN REVIEW 

“Our latest annual 

review highlights 

our activities and 

the key successes of 

over 6,000 farmers 

and ranchers who 

we work with, 

responsible for 

managing more 

than 3 million acres 

of land across 

the world,” says 

Katie Amos, AGW’s 

Director of 

Communications 

and Outreach. “We 

also explore our key 

goals for the next 

year—and beyond.” 

Visit agreenerworld. 

org/library 

A GREENER WORLD 

2022 IN REVIEW 

AGRITOURISM AWARD 

Shepherd’s Cross in Claremore, OK was awarded 

the 2023 Inspiring Agritourism Award at the 

Oklahoma Local Agricultural Summit, hosted by 

the Oklahoma Local Agricultural Committee. The 

annual award is given in recognition of outstanding 

contributions to the community regarding 

agricultural education. 

Shepherd’s Cross is a working sheep farm—and 

an agritourism adventure! With a Farm Museum 

and Educational Silo, working wool mill and a 

unique Country Craft gift shop featuring many 

woolly and sheep related crafts and gifts, the farm 

hosts tens of thousands of visitors every year. 

There is also a large picnic area and a licensed 

animal petting barn, with tractor rides through 

the pastures. 

The farm also hosts numerous community 

events and educational workshops throughout 

the year, as well as livestock management classes, 

and has been hosting fiber arts classes—including 

weaving, dyeing, spinning and 

felting—for over two decades. 

The property is wheelchair 

accessible. 

“With families now about 

two or three generations 

removed from the farm, most 

Americans don't understand 

why farming is important,” said 

Dr. Dianne Dickinson, co-owner 

and operator of Shepherd’s 

Cross. “We just want them to 

realize how important it is for 

America to hold on to farmland.” 

DANA SHOUSE/SHEPHERD'S CROSS 

NEW PROMOTIONAL VIDEO 

AGW is launching a new video promoting our 

family of trusted certifications and their benefits 

to both farmers and consumers. 

With scenes from farms and ranches around 

the world featuring the various AGW certifications, 

the promotional video is approximately one 

minute long and specifically designed for use 

on social media platforms. AGW farmers and 

supporters are encouraged to share the video 

with customers and contacts. 

“Video is such a powerful communication 

tool when engaging with 

an online audience,” says 

Katie Amos, AGW’s Director 

of Communications and 

Outreach. “We hope that 

certified producers and 

our followers will use it to 

engage with their networks 

and share widely!” 

To watch the video, visit 

agreenerworld.org/videos 



Advertise here 

and reach over 

15,000 

farm, ranch and 

food businesses 

email advertise@agreenerworld.org 

call 800-373-8806 

To keep up to date with our latest educational 

blog posts and get the latest news delivered 

direct to your inbox, simply scan this QR code 

or visit 

agreenerworld.org/get-involved/email-sign-up 

Your donation creates an environmental legacy 

Opinion 

TRANSPARENCY 

ON GMO 

The need for 

transparency 

in GMO 

labeling is 

clear, says 

Katie Amos 

Katie Amos is 

AGW’s Director of 

Communications 

and Outreach 

ISTOCK 

More than half of U.S. consumers (55%) look for 

food and beverages that are non-GMO certified, 

according to The Hartman Group, a leading 

international food and beverage market research 

company. 

Whether their motivations include environmental 

sustainability, health, concerns about corporate 

control, and/or greater transparency in food 

production, today’s consumers are looking for 

clear, meaningful product labels that indicate 

whether food products contain any genetically 

modified organism (GMO) ingredients, if food was 

produced by animals fed GMO feeds, or even if 

food ingredients came from GMO animals. 

With a mandatory compliance deadline of 

January 1, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) National Bioengineered Food 

Disclosure Standard now requires the labeling 

of all foods that are genetically modified or 

contain GMO ingredients. This required U.S. food 

manufacturers, importers, and certain retailers to 

disclose the presence of GMOs in foods through 

several options: text, symbols, electronic or digital 

link (like a QR Code), and/or text message. 

In September 2022, however, the U.S. District 

Court for the Northern District of California 

declared that the USDA acted unlawfully in 

allowing food retailers to label GMO foods 

using only a QR code, on the basis that it was 

not sufficiently accessible. This was the result 

of a lawsuit against USDA by a coalition of 

nonprofits, including Center for Food Safety, 

Natural Grocers and Puget Consumers 

Co-op, which contended that reliance on 

QR codes was discriminatory, particularly 

for low-income, rural, and elderly Americans 

who are most likely to encounter technological 

challenges in receiving information 

from a QR code. 

The USDA is expected to revise the rule in 

keeping with the court ruling. 

In a world where transparent labels are hard 

to come by, we’re glad to see progress toward 

more effective labeling. Standalone QR codes 

are not sufficient methods of conveying important 

ingredient information. They can be small, easily 

overlooked, confusing and hard to use for consumers 

who do not have a smartphone or lack a 

reliable internet connection. Product labels should 

provide clear information about GMOs, formatted 

in a way that is accessible and easy to understand, 

so consumers can make an informed choice. 

One meaningful way for consumers to 

identify non-GMO foods (and for food producers 

to communicate with their customers) is through 

a trusted third-party certification, such as Certified 

Non-GMO by AGW. Certified Non-GMO by AGW 

is the logo of choice if you’re looking for foods 

produced without GMOs, and also want to support 

independent farms, environmental stewardship 

and high-welfare treatment of farm animals. 

For more information about Certified Non-GMO 

by AGW, visit agreenerworld.org/certifications/ 

certified-nongmo-agw 

A Greener World is a nonprofit whose work is made possible by donations from people like you. Because we are not 

dependent on certification fees, we can remain impartial in our auditing, resulting in unrivaled integrity and trust. 

Your donations help us stay independent. Will you partner with us to build a greener world by giving today? 

Find out more at agreenerworld.org/donate 

6 • SUSTAINABLE FARMING • SPRING 2023 SPRING 2023 • SUSTAINABLE FARMING • 7

DIGGING FOR A 

GOLD STANDARD 

ROBERT COLLINS/SOIL HEALTH INSTITUTE 

Daniel 

Liptzin and 

Bright Ofori 

explore the 

role of soil 

carbon in 

soil health 

and carbon 

storage 

It is generally accepted that increasing the amount 

of organic carbon in soil is beneficial for soil health 

and helps to remove CO 2 

from the atmosphere. 

But while soil carbon is a key component of 

evaluating the health of soil, it doesn’t encompass 

the totality of soil health. It is just one of the three 

indicators of soil health recommended by the Soil 

Health Institute (SHI). 

There is also overlap between the role of soil 

carbon in soil health and its importance in the 

context of carbon storage, carbon sequestration, 

and carbon markets. To understand how soil 

carbon relates to soil health—and the distinction 

between soil health and soil carbon in other 

contexts—we first need to explore what soil carbon 

is, how to quantify soil carbon, and what causes 

changes in soil carbon. 

What is soil carbon? 

Soil carbon can exist in either organic or inorganic 

forms. 

Soil organic carbon comprises the complex 

mixture of molecules dominated by plant litter 

partially decomposed by microbial activity, 

as well as root exudates and microbial waste 

products, and the micro-organisms themselves. 

Basically, this includes anything that is or used to 

be part of a living organism. The vast majority of 

soil organic carbon is solid and non-living, but a 

small fraction is dissolved in the soil solution or 

within living microbes. 

Inorganic forms of carbon in soil, such as 

carbonates, can either exist in soils because 

the bedrock contains carbonates (for example, 

limestone or dolomite) or because carbonates 

form in the soils of drier regions. 

How to quantify soil carbon 

The current gold standard for quantifying soil 

carbon is by dry combustion of soil samples 

in a laboratory. 

A soil sample is collected from the field 

and a small subsample is combusted at high 

temperature to convert all the soil carbon to 

carbon dioxide, which is then measured precisely. 

If inorganic carbon is present in the form of soil 

carbonates, a separate analysis must be done, and 

the inorganic carbon is subtracted from the total 

carbon to calculate soil organic carbon. 

Several promising methods have the potential 

to make dry combustion obsolete and bring 

down associated costs (including the reflectance 

of different wavelengths of light to measure soil 

organic carbon in the field, in the lab, or even with 

remote sensing), while computer models calibrated 

with dry combustion measurements are getting 

better at predicting soil carbon based on the soil 

type and management. However, the dry combustion 

method is the current recommended 

measurement for soil organic carbon. 

Why soil carbon varies 

over time and space 

Based on the vast number of soil samples 

collected globally, we know that climate, vegetation, 

landscape position, parent material, soil 

texture, and disturbance history all affect the 

current concentration of soil organic carbon. 

In general, soils with more clay will have more 

soil organic carbon, as a result of greater water 

holding capacity to grow plants and adsorption 

of organic carbon to clay surfaces, as well as 

physical protection within aggregates. However, 

based on land use history, the current amount of 

soil carbon will vary from the predictions, and the 

interpretation of soil organic carbon measurements 

will depend on the location. For example, a soil 

organic carbon concentration of 1% in the top six 

inches of one soil type might represent above 

average carbon because of good management, 

while in another soil type, this could represent a 

soil organic carbon concentration well below the 

average for that soil. 

Soil organic carbon is also not a static quantity 

over time. It represents the balance between the 

inputs of organic carbon, mostly from photosynthesis 

by plants, and exports of organic carbon, 

mostly through crop removal and respiration by 

soil microbes. Microbial respiration converts the 

soil organic carbon back into carbon dioxide in 

the atmosphere. 

Soil health generally focuses on the soil organic 

carbon concentration (reported as % carbon) in 

the top six inches of soil. In contrast, soil carbon 

markets are based on the sequestration of carbon 

in soil to greater depth. Carbon sequestration 

indicates that there has been a change in carbon 

storage or the total mass of soil organic carbon 

in the soil profile, usually to a depth of 12 inches. 



This accounts for any redistribution of carbon 

throughout the plow layer from tillage. In some 

soils, especially artificially drained soils, the carbon 

is often still in a state of re-equilibrating. 

How management affects soil carbon 

Changing the inputs of carbon or the conditions 

for soil microbes can result in changing the amount 

of soil organic carbon. The most prominent 

example of this is conversion of native vegetation 

to cropland and its associated tillage. Depending 

on a number of factors, approximately one-half 

of soil organic carbon in many cropland soils 

has been converted to carbon dioxide in the 

atmosphere. This redistribution of carbon from the 

soil to the atmosphere results from a combination 

of disturbing the soil structure, leading to increased 

microbial respiration, and changes to the inputs of 

carbon to the soil due to the change in vegetation 

composition. 

Tile drainage dries out soils, providing more 

favorable conditions for microbial respiration. 

Irrigation can increase the plant inputs (through 

more photosynthesis and growth), so agricultural 

soils in arid regions may have higher soil organic 

carbon than native ecosystems. 

While soil scientists are quite certain about 

the agricultural practices that result in loss of soil 

organic carbon, we are still learning the potential 

for shifting the balance back to carbon storage 

in soil. In general, practices that increase organic 

carbon inputs and decrease organic carbon 

exports tend to increase soil organic carbon. 

One complication with all soil health measurements 

is that they vary throughout the year 

because of the weather, the timing of crop 

SOIL HEALTH 

INSTITUTE (SHI) 

SHI is a global nonprofit 

with a mission 

of safeguarding and 

enhancing the vitality 

and productivity 

of soils through 

scientific research 

and advancement. 

The Institute brings 

together leaders in 

soil health science 

and the industry to 

conduct research 

and empower 

farmers and other 

landowners with 

the knowledge to 

successfully adopt 

regenerative soil 

health systems that 

contribute economic 

and environmental 

benefits to agriculture 

and society. 

Their website offers 

a host of resources, 

including videos, 

factsheets and 

useful links. Visit 

soilhealthinstitute 

.org 

development, and management such as tillage. 

Soil carbon typically increases when significant 

plant residue is added to soils after harvest or 

cover crop termination. Similarly, precipitation and 

temperature alter the amount of plant biomass 

and microbial decomposition of soil carbon. It 

is therefore important to take soil samples at a 

specific location at the same time of year. We 

also know that it can take several years to detect 

measurable increases in soil organic carbon as a 

result of changes in management. 

Why is soil carbon central to soil health? 

Soil organic carbon is central to soil health because 

of its wide-ranging effects on soil properties. It 

has high surface area that is negatively charged, 

increasing water holding capacity and nutrient 

retention. Many organic molecules (including 

polymers exuded by particular groups of microbes) 

are sticky, helping aggregate soils and improving 

soil structure and habitat. 

Soil organic carbon provides the basis of the soil 

food web and is intimately tied to nutrient cycling. 

The soil organic carbon feeds the bacteria and 

fungi in the soil, which are the food source for the 

rest of the soil animals. In addition, some of these 

bacteria and fungi convert the soil organic matter 

into inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus that plants 

can take up in their roots. 

While soil organic carbon comprises all the 

different kinds of molecules containing carbon 

in the soil, several fractions that comprise only a 

percent or two of the soil organic carbon—including 

permanganate oxidizable carbon, water extractable 

carbon, and carbon mineralization potential—may 

also provide useful information on soil health. 

All these carbon fractions are correlated with soil 

organic carbon, and they can all provide a view into 

the carbon cycle in soils. 

Additional indicators for soil health 

While soil organic carbon is related to microbial 

activity and soil structure, the SHI also 

recommends two additional indicators to 

capture the full picture of soil health: 

24-hour carbon mineralization: Widely 

available at commercial laboratories, relatively 

inexpensive, and the easiest to interpret of the 

carbon fractions, it quantifies the amount actually 

respired by the microbes. In general, more carbon 

mineralization is indicative of a more active 

microbial community, meaning a high rate of 

organic carbon decomposition and nutrient cycling. 

This increases the nutrients available to crops. 

Aggregate stability. A measurement of how 

strongly the soil particles are held together. There 

are several ways to quantify aggregate stability in 

the field or laboratory, but the preferred method 

of the SHI uses image quantification to measure 

soil slaking after rewetting. Aggregate stability 

is important because it is linked to preventing 

erosion and improving water infiltration in soils. 

Measure over time 

Combined with measuring soil organic carbon 

concentration, these soil health measurements can 

be used to compare across fields of similar soils 

or to monitor changes in soil health as a result of 

management changes in a field over time. In order 

to interpret the absolute values of these indicators, 

they must be evaluated in soils that are similar in 

PRACTICES THAT 

PROMOTE SOIL 

ORGANIC CARBON 

Decreased tillage: 

decreasing the 

depth, width, 

and inversion of 

the soil, along with 

frequency of tillage 

Increased living 

roots: adding 

cover crops, 

double cropping, 

or perennials in 

the crop rotation 

Organic nutrients: 

replacing commercial 

fertilizer with organic 

sources of nutrients 

Residue retention: 

Leaving plant 

residue in the fields 

whenever possible 

climate, inherent soil properties like texture, and 

landscape setting. 

With the adoption of soil health promoting 

practices (see panel, left), at least one of the assays 

should increase, but the amount of change for 

each indicator will depend on the soil type. While 

these individual indicators provide useful information 

on their own, as a group they encapsulate 

the broad spectrum of soil functions related to 

soil health, such as nutrient cycling, water holding 

capacity, erosion control and habitat for microbes, 

and will allow effective benchmarking and tracking 

of any changes in management at the farm level. 

In summary, analyzing soils for soil organic 

carbon is an integral part of quantifying soil health. 

However, a singular focus on soil organic carbon 

can negate/distract from the overall picture of 

soil health. Combining measurements of soil 

organic carbon with 24-hour carbon mineralization 

potential and aggregate stability in a regional 

context (accounting for differences in climate, soil 

texture, and landscape position) will give farmers 

a clear picture of the state of soil health on their 

farms. And by analyzing soil samples taken at the 

same sites at the same time of year on an annual 

basis, these methods will allow farmers to assess 

the impact of specific management changes on 

soil health over time. 

Dr. Daniel Liptzin is a research soil scientist with 

a background in biogeochemistry and nutrient 

cycling. Dr. Bright Ofori is a soil scientist with a 

background in soil fertility, nutrient management, 

and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from 

agricultural soils. 

ROBERT COLLINS/SOIL HEALTH INSTITUTE (x4) 

Vertisol soil profile near Hearne, Texas showing soil structure 

Collecting soil health and carbon samples using a soil probe 

Manisha Lewis (left) and Dianna Bagnall (right) of SHI 

Describing soil color during a soil assessment 



IN THE DRINK 

ISTOCK (x4) 

There’s more to livestock drinking water than you think, 

warns Jennifer Gravley 

Prevent livestock accessing watercourses This 'water trough' contains fecal matter Algae reveals unbalanced water chemistry 

Water is arguably the most important nutrient 

on earth. 

It is “the universal solvent,” providing just the 

right electrical charges to free important minerals 

for use in the body. Water-based lymphatic fluid 

flows between cells to deliver nutrients and 

remove waste products for excretion in urine and 

sweat. It keeps exposed tissues moist, evaporates 

for cooling, and helps keep animals warm in cold 

weather. 

If water is critical to the biological processes 

that sustain growth, health, and reproduction, 

then how come “leading your horse to water” 

isn’t enough? 

Water for productivity 

While water contaminants sometimes contribute 

to disease, most livestock water quality issues are 

actually water quantity issues. 

Water access may be limited by competition, 

distance, mud, or stray voltage at the trough. When 

available water is unappealing, animals don’t drink 

enough. Feed intake drops, health problems are 

exacerbated, and production decreases. 

Research has shown that cows with free access 

to water produce more milk and higher butterfat 

than cows that only access water twice daily. Even 

with free water access, one study reported 23% 

more daily weight gain in heifers whose water was 

cleaner. Cow-calf pairs showed similar effects, with 

22% better gain in one month for calves whose 

mothers had access to cleaner water. Another 

researcher found that steers with access to cool 

drinking water will gain an extra 1/3 pound per 

day compared to those drinking warm water. In 

these studies, the groups that gained less weren’t 

sick: their water was simply less appealing, so they 

drank less. 

For decades, researchers have noted increased 

milk production and milk constituents in lactating 

animals, better rate of egg lay, and weight gain in 

all species when water quality is improved. If you 

want to sabotage animal health and productivity, 

limit water palatability or intake. 

Minerals and pH 

Most livestock species tolerate a pH range of about 

5.5 to 8.3. For dairy animals, a narrower range of 

6.0 to 8.0 is preferable. Water that is too acidic 

or too alkaline can cause diarrhea, poor feed 

conversion, and reduced intake. 

Many minerals factor in salinity, reported as 

total dissolved solids (TDS) or total suspended 

solids (TSS). Hardness, on the other hand, refers 

only to calcium and magnesium. Hardness alone 

does not diminish intake or directly affect productivity 

or health. But pigs, ruminants and avian 

species consuming high-salinity water demonstrate 

reduced water and feed intake, poorer weight 

gain and reproductive performance. Tolerance 

of minerals in water depends on species, age, diet, 

and health status. It can also vary by climate or 

season. Gradual change can help animals adjust 

to water with different mineral content. 

Other than calcium from limestone, minerals in 

water are not utilized as nutrients. However, these 

substances are sometimes involved in subtle 

physiological effects or complex chemical interactions. 

For example, most animals can acclimate 

to sulfates without harm, but high-sulfate water 

interacts with certain dietary minerals to cause 

serious neurological disease. The rare, unpredictable 

nature of these health effects—and their 

absence in most herds—points to complex interactions 

that reach far beyond water quality. If you 

suspect issues related to mineral content of water, 

an expert nutritional consultant may be warranted. 

Nitrates 

In livestock, the usual sign of nitrate poisoning is 

sudden death. Dairy animals may show reduced 

milk production without any other signs. Drought- 

To sabotage 

animal 

health and 

productivity, 

limit water 

palatability 

or intake 

For issues 

with mineral 

content, a 

nutritional 

consultant 

may be 

warranted 

stressed cereal crops tend to be the primary 

culprit, but nitrate toxicity can be exacerbated 

when nitrogen from fertilizers, waste, or decaying 

plants and animals accumulates in surface water 

and shallow wells. Different species metabolize 

these compounds very differently, so consult 

animal health and water quality experts if nitrate 

toxicity is a concern. 

Turbidity and microbes 

Most stock tanks host a biological ecosystem. 

The key to minimizing pathogen risks is not sterility 

but environmental management. In one study, 

thoroughly disinfecting troughs increased coliform 

bacteria counts. Other studies also show that 

water treatment can increase E. coli O157 counts. 

Sunlight suppresses some bacteria, yet promotes 

other microbes (as well as algae). Many of 

these effects are due to competition and predation 

among the entire community of microorganisms. 

Combat anaerobic bacteria by oxygenating 

stagnant water sources and scrubbing containers 

regularly to remove biofilms. Before applying 

any chemical water treatments, take time to 

understand their full effects. 

Any source of turbidity (particles) can make 

water less palatable, but manure levels as low 

as 0.005% are enough to decrease water intake. 

Surprisingly, giardia, cryptosporidium, and other 

waterborne fecal parasites are sometimes present 

in entire herds without signs of disease or poor 

performance. But these and many other parasites 

can and do cause disease in other herds. Do your 

best to prevent manure from entering drinking 

water! 

Agricultural contaminants and algae 

For many agricultural or industrial contaminants, 

no safe levels are established for drinking water. 

A few algae species produce dangerous cyanotoxins, 

and consumption of these toxins must 

be prevented. If your water source is subject to 

high-nitrogen or high-phosphate runoff from 

fertilizers or poultry manure, be prepared to 

mitigate algae growth. Seek expert guidance when 

using treatments that can adversely affect aquatic 

systems or animal health. 

The agroecosystem 

In a well-stewarded pasture, soil structure slows 

percolation of water, giving countless critters time 

to capture animal waste and inactivate many contaminants. 

Livestock with direct access to ponds 

or streams, or animals whose waste is carried by 

runoff, send their problems downstream to affect 

their wild and domestic neighbors. 

Animal waste can add excessive nutrients and 

pharmaceuticals, decrease penetration of sunlight, 

and disrupt biological balance of the aquatic ecosystem 

in ways that favor pathogens and toxic 

algae. Take care to keep manure out of surface 

water, wells, and shallow water tables. 

Conclusion 

Generally speaking, animal health problems are 

not caused by what is in the water. Rather, waterrelated 

health problems arise due to stress caused 

by inadequate supply or unpalatable water. Both 

lead to reduced intake, undermining animal health 

and productivity. 

Prevent manure from entering drinking water 

and remember that small mitigations in water 

quality can make a big difference. Your veterinarian 

can help narrow down possible waterborne causes 

of unexplained maladies. Local water quality or 

extension experts are your best resources to decide 

what water testing or treatment may be required. 

Jennifer Gravley dvm is a veterinarian and educator 

with a special interest in the intersection of food 

animal medicine and public health 



THE AUDIT TRAIL 

So you’ve received a “non-compliance” or “critical non-compliance” 

after your AGW audit. Now what? Tim Holmes explains 

The fundamental role of our team of trained 

auditors is to assess whether a certified operation 

is compliant with AGW’s standards. 

After visiting your business, the auditor 

will submit a detailed audit report to AGW’s 

compliance team, identifying any issues that may 

have arisen on the day of their visit. These are 

known as a non-compliance or a critical noncompliance. 

The compliance team will then review 

the audit report for accuracy and completeness, 

before sending a Compliance Report back to you, 

explaining any action(s) required on your part to 

comply with the standards. 

Action required 

It is very important to understand that NCs and 

CNCs are actually quite common. In fact, it is quite 

rare for a farming operation not to receive at least 

one after their first audit. 

If you received a non-compliance (NC) or critical 

non-compliance (CNC) during your audit, your 

auditor should have discussed the specific issues 

with you at the end of your audit. It does not 

mean we think your operation is “bad” or poorly 

managed. It simply means your operation does 

not (yet) fully comply with the AGW standards, 

and you will need to address the specific issues 

before we can certify (or re-certify) your operation. 

After the audit, we will send your Compliance 

Report via email in a spreadsheet format, with 

various sections (navigable by the tabs at the 

bottom). If you received any NCs or CNCs, you 

need to provide a clear description of the corrective 

action that you intend to take to resolve the 

problem, as well as a realistic estimated date of 

completion before you send the form back to us. 

The Compliance Report form includes the 

minimum information you will need to supply in 

order to resolve the specific issue(s) identified. 

(See the examples on the facing page.) 

Time is money 

Failure to supply sufficient or detailed information 

when returning a compliance report is the number 

one reason for prolonged, time-consuming, backand-forth 

communication between operations 

If you 

receive a 

NC or CNC, 

it does not 

mean we 

think your 

operation 

is “bad” 

or poorly 

managed 

and the program, as well as lengthy delays in 

approving applications and issuing you with your 

well-deserved certificate—something we all want 

to avoid. 

To save us all time and money, it is important 

to make sure you have provided detailed, specific 

information about the corrective action(s) you 

will take to address any NCs or CNCs you have 

received—along with a deadline that is fair and 

realistic for the issue(s) identified—before you 

return your Compliance Report. 

Stay in touch 

It sounds obvious, but you can significantly reduce 

the likelihood of receiving any future NCs or CNCs 

by contacting us well in advance of your audit to 

ask any questions you may have about the AGW's 

standards and how they might apply to your farm 

or ranch, as well as for guidance on possible ways 

to address existing NCs. We’re here to help. 

We also appreciate that life can throw up 

unexpected challenges and that our plans go off 

track, or urgent tasks must take priority. If, for any 

reason, you can no longer meet the estimated 

date of completion in your Compliance Report, 

please get in touch as soon as possible so we can 

consider an extension. 

Please don't leave it until the day of your audit 

to explain why you haven’t taken any required 

action. If the issues raised in your Compliance 

Report have not been addressed at your re-audit, 

and you haven’t been in touch to explain why, you 

are at risk of being suspended from the program— 

or even having your certification terminated in very 

serious cases. That’s something we really do all 

want to avoid. 

If you have any questions on the compliance 

process at any time, please get in touch and we’ll 

do our best help. Thank you for your cooperation 

and participation in the programs offered by AGW, 

which enable your efforts and excellent farming 

practice to be recognized. 

Tim Holmes is Director of Compliance at 


The compliance 

summary form 

An example compliance 

report for a farm with a 

flock of 80 laying hens, 

where the auditor has 

identified insufficient 

perch space. The green 

box indicates where the 

farmer should explain 

how they will resolve 

the issue. 

Are you 

Certified 

Regenerative? 

Example 1 • Unacceptable: This response does 

not provide sufficient information. In this case, 

the farmer provides no specific details about the 

number of perches or their location, while the 

timeframe is far too vague. 

The Certified Regenerative by AGW program 

works in a slightly different way, with a two-stage 

process for certification. 

First, applicants submit a unique whole-farm 

regenerative plan, describing the strategies that 

will comply with the standards. If the plan does 

not contain sufficient information, we will send 

a corrective action plan (CAP) to the operation, 

explain what key information is missing and how 

to continue the process. 

The applicant would respond to the issues 

identified (for example, missing information 

or a practice that needs to be clarified) on the 

CAP form and update their regenerative plan 

accordingly, sending both back to AGW. Your 

revised CAP form response needs to indicate 

exactly where in the Plan the issue has been 

addressed, along with an appropriate timeframe 

Example 2 • Acceptable: This response from the 

farmer is acceptable because it clearly details how 

much additional perch space the farmer will install 

and the actual location, as well as a time frame 

that is specific, fair and realistic. 

for each action that needs to be addressed. 

(Please use a different colored text for any 

changes, as this allows us to swiftly identify all 

new information within the plan when we review 

it and makes the process much faster.) 

The second part of the approval process is 

the on-site audit, where we will compare your 

approved regenerative plan with what is seen 

on the farm. If the farm’s practices are not fully 

reflected in the approved regenerative plan, 

the auditor may simply note that the plan 

needs updating. If, however, the auditor sees 

that a standard is not being met, we will issue 

an updated corrective action plan, which the 

applicant is required to complete in order to 

achieve or maintain certification, explaining how 

they will correct the problems identified, along 

with a fair and realistic deadline. 



BORDER PATROL 

ISTOCK (x3) BARBARA SYKES 

What are 

the key 

challenges 

of keeping 

sheep dogs 

on a farm 

or ranch? 

A correct diet is vital 

Provide a good home 

Time to create a bond 

Training a working dog for sheep requires 

commitment, skill and patience—particularly 

for the Border Collie, on which this article will 

focus. Before even thinking about the introduction 

to sheep, you must first negotiate puppy selection, 

provide appropriate housing, ensure a good diet 

and general welfare, and establish a strong bond 

with your dog. 

Characterized by high intelligence, presence and 

loyalty, the Border Collie is more like a precision 

instrument and requires special training and care, 

as well as understanding, affection, and empathy. 

A good sheepdog will work above and beyond the 

call of duty throughout its life. A good sheepdog 

makes a shepherd's life easier; a good shepherd 

reveres their sheepdog. 

Selecting a puppy 

The time spent researching the background of 

a future working partner is a small price to pay 

for the years of loyalty and hard work you will 

get from the right dog. 

It is generally accepted that bad training 

and poor day-to-day management can result in 

puppies of great potential failing to make good 

working dogs, while sympathetic training 

can create excellent working dogs from animals 

of lesser breeding. 

Nevertheless, good breeding does increase 

the likelihood of a good working dog, and a skilled 

breeder will ensure the breeding lines of the sire 

and the dam are compatible, as well as minimizing 

genetic health issues. Choosing from a registered 

breeder also means you can see the family history 

and ask important questions: Were the parents 

and grandparents easy to train? Did they mature 

early or late? Were they gentle or hard on stock? 

Collies are bred to work and the criteria for a 

good dog is keen hearing, plenty of stamina and 

the ability to work in all weathers. The nearer to 

this standard a dog is bred, the better equipped 

it will be to do the work it was intended for. But 

whether you buy from a recognized breeder or 

not, only ever buy a puppy from parents that were 

tested for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) 

and Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA). 

Feeding 

As with all animals, a correct diet is important for 

growth and wellbeing, and protein intake must be 

balanced with the output of energy for maintenance 

through its different life stages. Remember: energy 

should be the result of stamina—not high protein— 

and a diet too high in protein when the dog is 

young can result in skeletal issues later on in life. 

Although an expensive diet is not necessary, cheap 

feed is almost always a false economy in the long 

run. It is well worth investigating the ingredients 

of any feed and selecting carefully for your dog's 

age, overall energy requirements and the individual 

characteristics of the dog. 

Housing and welfare 

A dog is entitled to its own space and deserves 

clean, dry accommodation where it can seek peace 

and rest at the end of a working day, whether this 

is in a kennel, outbuilding, dog run or in the home. 

Kenneled: The kennel and surrounding area 

must be kept clean and dry, with ample shelter 

against wind and rain. The structure must be 

completely draft and rain proof, with ample space 

for the dog to stretch its legs. Ensure a good 

supply of clean dry bedding is provided each night 

with a 'digging strip' across the inside of the kennel 

to prevent the bedding being scattered outside 

when the dog digs its bed. 

Outbuilding: An empty stable or a barn 

provides ideal accommodation, plus room for 

exercise and freedom to move around. Dogs prefer 

a small and compact sleeping area where they can 

feel safe and generate warmth, so always provide a 

suitable box or straw kennel for sleeping quarters. 

Where appropriate, a wire window or gate to the 

outdoors will prevent boredom. 

Purpose-built run: A purpose-built run offers 

the advantage of shelter and outdoor vision. 

Ensure you provide a suitable protected sleeping 

area. A covered run is important to avoid wet 

bedding, while solid flooring is essential for 

hygiene and to prevent digging. 

Home: While keeping a dog that’s expected to 

do a lot of wet and dirty work in the home is not 

usually desirable, a warm utility or boiler-room 

can serve as good canine housing. However, it 

is important to be honest about your relationship 

with your dog and its boundaries in the home, as 

the working relationship can be compromised if 

that mutual respect is lost. 

Health and wellbeing 

A dog will grow, mature and develop in its own 

time. Forcing a dog into maturity before it is ready 

will not gain time; in fact, it can slow the dog's 

training program. Allow a dog to develop slowly 

and promote only when it is able to always think 

before it acts. 

Collies are highly intelligent. Too much restriction 

on freedom will compromise the dog’s mental 



health and wellbeing, leading to frustration, barking 

and even aggression. However, too much freedom 

can lead a dog to become overly dominant and a 

breakdown in the working relationship. Ensure the 

dog understands that while it owns only its own 

space, the rest of the property (whether a garden 

or hundreds of acres) belongs to the handler. 

All dogs should be wormed and treated for 

fleas regularly, and puppies should be vaccinated 

against main disease threats. Always seek the 

advice of a qualified veterinarian. 

A healthy dog with a clean coat is a happy 

dog. While most dogs will keep themselves clean, 

it is important to wash or hose down dogs that 

constantly work in mud before the mud dries. 

Keep ears clean and free from tangles and regularly 

check the body, coat and pads for thorns and ticks. 

A long-coated dog may seem hot in summer but 

clipping the coat is not the answer: the coat is long 

for a reason and the dog will suffer in extremes of 

heat, cold or wet if removed. 

Empathy 

A good dog will save its handler from needless 

running, worrying if a sheep is hiding behind a 

wall, from being driven to exasperation when 

ISTOCK 

GUIDELINES FOR 

WORKING DOGS 

Working dogs 

can be of valuable 

assistance to both 

protect and manage 

animals on the farm. 

A Greener World has 

produced Guidelines 

for Working Dogs, 

offering Animal 

Welfare Approved 

farms guidelines 

on the appropriate 

management of 

working dogs, including 

dog selection 

and training, health 

management, 

appropriate diet, 

shelter and handling. 

Download a copy at 


trying to pen wayward ewes and lambs, and so 

on. A shepherd asks a lot from a dog and always 

receives; a dog asks for nothing but a kind word, 

a loving touch, and a best friend. If you are unable 

to spend the time getting to know your dog, to 

understand its needs, and create a bond, then 

having a dog may not be a good fit. 

Treat your dog well and the look in a dog's eyes 

when you walk towards it will say it all. 

Further information 

The International Sheep Dog Society is a 

significant online resource. Visit www.isds.org.uk. 

The following books are highly recommended: 

Training The Sheep Dog by Thomas Longton 

and Barbara Sykes; Living with Border Collies by 

Barbara Sykes; The Farmer's Dog by John Holmes; 

and Dog Owner's Veterinary Handbook by David 

Youngs and John Bower. 

This article is based on a longer piece written 

by Barbara Sykes, leading author on training 

border collies and owner of Mainline Border 

Collie Centre, UK. To read the full article, email 

info@agreenerworld.org or visit agreenerworld. 

org/resources/science-and-research 

Certification news 

TESTING TIMES 

Caitlin 

Aguilar 

takes us 

behind the 

scenes of 

non-GMO 

testing 

Congratulations! You’ve decided to make a 

commitment to non-GMO certification to meet 

the rapidly growing public demand for products 

free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) 

or genetically modified ingredients. 

You’ve carefully read AGW’s Non-GMO 

standards, submitted your application, and 

completed your first audit. You eagerly anticipate 

your certificate arriving in your mailbox. But after 

a few weeks, you start to wonder what could 

be taking so long? If this sounds familiar, you’re 

not alone. Let’s explore what happens to your 

application behind the scenes after your Certified 

Non-GMO by AGW samples leave your property. 

PCR analysis, which indicates presence or 

absence of GM DNA. This is typically used for 

moderate-risk ingredients. The Certified Non- 

GMO by AGW standards require high-risk 

ingredients to have at least one annual 

quantitative PCR analysis and allows the 

post-audit testing to fulfill this requirement. 

Laboratory testing costs vary greatly 

($200–$600), depending on the test and the 

number of genetic traits of the crop. Other tests 

such as lateral flow strips are generally used in 

the field, but PCR analysis and ELISA test (a test 

that detects proteins) are strictly conducted by 

a laboratory. 

Caitlin Aguilar is 

Director of Quality 

with A Greener World 

Risk 

Samples are collected based on a risk rating 

of low, medium or high. Low-risk products are 

those where no genetically modified (GM) version 

is known and are thus not typically collected for 

testing. Barley, for example, is currently a low-risk 

ingredient, whereas soy is a high-risk ingredient. 

This is because commercially grown GM soy 

varieties are grown extensively in many countries. 

Handling 

When required, the auditor will collect three 

samples: one to stay with you, one to submit to 

an ISO 17025-accredited laboratory, and one that 

is temporarily held at the AGW offices in case the 

original is lost or damaged in transit. Samples are 

inspected at the AGW offices and prepared for 

laboratory submission. Rest assured: samples 

are handled to prevent any possibility of crosscontamination. 

Testing options 

As with sample collection, test options differ by 

risk. Quantitative PCR analysis—enumerating the 

amount of GM DNA in the sample—is the required 

laboratory test for high-risk ingredients. Another 

(often less expensive) testing option is qualitative 

Results 

On average, you should expect a 6-week postaudit 

response time. This accounts for sample 

shipment to and from the AGW office, document 

preparation, analysis reports, and a technical 

review. All results are reviewed by the AGW 

approval board against the testing thresholds 

outlined in the standards. Thresholds vary by 

product type (for example, animal feed, food 

ingredients and seed) and any results exceeding 

the threshold require corrective actions. 

Corrective actions must address the potential 

root cause of contamination (for example, feed 

stored in silos that previously contained GM 

feeds) and should include retest results. Do not 

stress: AGW is happy to help facilitate laboratory 

retesting. All corrective actions and retests are 

again reviewed by the AGW approval board for 

a certification decision. 

We are excited to work with you towards your non- 

GMO goals. Certified Non-GMO by AGW standards 

(including ingredient risk information) are available 

online for review. For more information, please 

get in touch at info@agreenerworld.org or 

1-800-373-8806 




From advice 

on applying, 

label design 

and technical 

support, 

we’re here 

to help ... 

Your regional point of contact 

From Alaska to Wyoming, Alberta to Saskatchewan, our outreach team 

offers a one-stop shop for farmers, ranchers and food businesses! 

Katie Amos 

717-412-1701 

Katie@ 


Callie Casteel 

931-548-0664 

Callie@ 


Promoting A Greener World 

AGW is proud to offer 

low-cost branded 

promotional materials 

to help raise awareness 

of your certification and 

better communicate 

the wider benefits of 

your farming practices. 

Every purchase also 

supports our work to 

educate and inform 

consumers—and helps 

keep your certifications 

affordable. 

For more promotional 

materials—and to 

place an order (with 

shipping)—visit 

agreenerworld.org/ 

shop-agw 

From Canada, please 

call +1 541-526-1119 

AGW APRON $25 

• Perfect for farmers’ 

markets or the kitchen 

• 8 oz organic cotton/ 

recycled polyester 

• Black fabric with white 

imprint A Greener 

World logo 

• Adjustable neckline, 

two front pockets, 

brass rivets, cotton 

webbing ties 

SHELF TALKER $5 

• Sold in packs of five 

• Printed on premium 

silk stock with 

wipeable coating 

• 4¼" x 2¾" 

• EZ-peal adhesive for 

shelf mounting 

• Made in the USA 

Certified Animal 

Welfare Approved by 

AGW producers only 

REGENERATIVE 

BROCHURES $5 

• Explains the benefits 

of certification 

• Ideal for farmers’ 

markets, farm stores 

and other events 

• 50 brochures per pack 

Certified Regenerative 

by AGW producers only 

CONSUMER 

BROCHURES $5 

• Explains the benefits 

of certification 

• Ideal for farmers’ 

markets, farm stores 

and other events 

• 50 brochures per pack 

If required for 

educational use, 

please email info@ 


LOOKING FOR A 

PROFESSIONAL LABEL 

DESIGN? 

Let our labeling team help you create a 

high-impact, professional product food label— 

designed to help you comply with relevant food 

labeling guidelines! 

Available FREE OF CHARGE to certified 

farmers, ranchers and food businesses. 

For details visit agreenerworld.org/farmerservices/labeling-support 

or call the team 

on 800-373-8806. 

“Everybody says the label is just beautiful. 

We are absolutely thrilled. We have a whole 

new market opened to us.” 

Suzanne Broussard, Dovetail Farm and Vineyard, Bells, Texas 

CERTIFIED ANIMAL 

WELFARE APPROVED 

BY AGW STICKER 

LABELS $8 

• 1" x 1" high-quality 

stickers 

• Long-life adhesive 

• 1,000 stickers per roll 


Welfare Approved by 


CERTIFIED GRASSFED 

BY AGW STICKER 

LABELS $8 

• 1" x 1" high-quality 

stickers 

• Long-life adhesive 

• 1,000 stickers per roll 

Certified Grassfed by 


CERTIFIED GRASSFED 

BY AGW METAL SIGN 

$12 

• Ideal for farm gate 

or barn wall 

• Aluminium 10" X 15" 

• Full-color embossed 

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Certified Grassfed by 


CERTIFIED NON-GMO 

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or barn wall 



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CERTIFIED 

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AGW METAL SIGN $12 


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Meet the farmer 

PRINCESS DIARIES 

Cynthia Houseweart, her husband, Ira, and their 

daughters, Izzi and CeCe, live and work on their 

fifth generation portion of the century old family 

ranch near Hotchkiss, CO, raising Certified AWA by 

AGW beef cattle on 260 acres of irrigated pasture. 

How did you get into ranching? 

Ira’s family has been ranching since 1915, and our 

girls are the fifth generation living on this property. 

I started ranching by taking part in a college friend's 

family cattle drive and ended up working for that 

family ranch. I originally started Princess Beef with 

a cow they gave me that I had named Princess. 

We ranch on irrigated alfalfa/grass pastures, with 

160 acres for grazing and 100 cut for hay. We run 

a herd of Red and Black Angus cross mama cows 

and calves and a herd of the previous years’ calves 

that we sell as 100% grassfed and finished beef. 

Our herd consists of cows that go back to the 

Houseweart centennial family herd of cows. 

We also put up around 200 tons of hay a year. 

Describe a typical day 

I love ranching because nothing is typical! Our 

life and work changes day by day, and with the 

seasons. 

How did you hear about AGW? 

I started selling grassfed beef in 1999 without 

any certifications. As more ranchers entered the 

market, I needed something to differentiate myself. 

My customers were really interested in animal 

welfare, so I looked into certifications to add to 

my marketing that supported what we were 

already doing. AGW was the most “holistic” label 

I found, keeping track not only of the life of the 

animal all the way to the slaughter, but also making 

sure we were taking care of the soil and pastures 

that I knew were essential to ranching. 

Sustainable farming: why does it matter? 

We owe it to the world and more personally, to our 

daughters, to keep improving the land we farm for 

future generations to thrive. 

Who are your customers? 

We sell mostly quarter, half and whole beef directly 

to families that understand that pasture-raised beef 

is not only better for their health but also better 

for the environment. We also sell ground beef to 

a small local grocery store that buys products from 

our area's farmers and ranchers. 

What are your business plans for the future? 

After 25 years of direct marketing, I’m happy with 

the size of our operation. We’ll continue to market 

our beef for as long as we can because I don’t 

ever want to sell to a feedlot. If one or both of our 

daughters want to ranch after college, I am more 

than happy to mentor them and get myself 

out of their way! 

What do you love most about what you do? 

Working outdoors, interacting with nature. 

What keeps you awake at night? 

Drought. 

If I was President I would ... 

To quote one of my favorite horse trainers, Ray 

Hunt, “Make the right thing easy and the wrong 

thing difficult.” Quit making unhealthy food so 

cheap. Reward those who are improving the soil, 

not degrading it. 

AT A GLANCE 

Farm: Princess Beef 

Certification date: 

October 2013 

Size: 260 acres (160 

acres grazed, 100 

acres cut for hay) 

Soil type: 

Sandy loam 

Altitude: 5,600 feet 

Annual rainfall: 

13 inches 

Enterprises: 


Welfare Approved 

by AGW beef cattle 

princessbeef.com 

PRINCESS BEEF (x2) 

The International Monthly Publication for a Healthy Planet and People 

through Profitable Grass-Based Livestock Production 

FOCUSED on the art and science of making a PROFIT from grassland agriculture. 

Get Your FREE Sample Issue Today! 

1-800-748-9808 

P.O. Box 2300 Ridgeland, MS 39158-2300 

WWW.STOCKMANGRASSFARMER.COM 

Apply online 

gosteward.com 



PO Box 115, Terrebonne OR 97760 

NON-PROFIT ORG 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

BEND OR 

PERMIT NO. 12 

“There are so many buzzwords these days and our Certified Regenerative by AGW status helps to separate 

“those that just claim they are regenerative from those that are—and have the verification to back it up.” 

Brian Park of Park Farming Organics, Meridian, CA 

COVER PHOTO: ISTOCK 

PRACTICAL, DOWN-TO-EARTH, RESPECTED 


FARMING IS OUR BUSINESS 

visit agreenerworld.org 

call 800-373-8806 

MIKE SUAREZ 

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A Greener World's Sustainable Farming Magazine -- Spring 2023 – V8 I1

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