I had the chance to visit Stone and Thistle Farm last week and met Tom Warren who owns the farm along with his wife Denise.  It was a cold rainy day but nothing could take away from the beauty of the farm, where chickens, turkeys, beef cattle, sheep, pigs and goats dot the pastures. Tom was kind enough to answer a few questions for the Grass-fed Party.

Can you tell us a bit about your farm Stone and Thistle, and why you became a grass-fed farmer?

[Stone & Thistle Farm] We are a diversified livestock farm and certified organic goat dairy in the Catskill Mountains of central New York State.  We raise chickens, turkeys, beef cattle, sheep, hogs and dairy goats. We have a restaurant open on Saturday nights on our farm that serves only products produced on our farm and other small farms in our county.   We have been committed grazers for many years.  We did not set out to be “grass fed farmers”, but grew into the practice because we believe it is better for our animals, and the environment.

Do you think that America is ready to rely more on grass-fed farming? As there ben more support and/or demand for grass-fed farming?

[Stone & Thistle Farm] Yes and No.  We market most of our products in our rural region of central New York State.  We have seen a heightened awareness of the benefits of grass fed meat and eggs by consumers, but this does not necessarily translate into widespread committed consumer purchasing. We are a nation of soft believers.  Many consumers are interested in but confused by the many different labels that are currently being bandied about.  They want organic, local, small farm, cage free, grass-fed, pasture raised, family farm products; and which is what or what is which sometimes gets lost.  The demand comes largely from a more affluent better educated; I have read Michael Pollen and Barbara Kingsolver, type crowd. Our challenge as alternative agricultural producers is to   market products at a price that is fair to us, and accessible to a larger portion of the consuming population.  We are not doing that yet.

 What are the biggest obstacles that face grass-fed farmer's in America?

[Stone & Thistle Farm] Consumer education

Do you think grass-fed change will be driven by the consumer or does it also need changes in policy?

[Stone & Thistle Farm] Agricultural policy needs to change in this country.  I would prefer to see an end to subsidies, and more focus on conservation related initiatives that could support better use of our pasture resources.  Unfortunately the USDA will have to implement practice standards for use of the term grass fed. This will probably turn out as badly as the NOP.

Stone and Thistle Farm

Pastured Pig