AGW Blog

Dear Aggie, I’m trying to make better purchasing decisions, and love what you do. I want to support systems like you certify, but I wonder if these kinds of farms can really supply larger markets and make a difference in our food system? Sincerely, Hungry in Hanover Dear Hungry, This is a great question. We have farms with hundreds of thousands of acres, and farms with two acres: it’s about system, not size. There is no farm size requirement as…

Dear Aggie, The holiday giving season is almost here. With so many different charities asking for donations, why should I give to AGW? We understand that you may feel bombarded or overwhelmed by nonprofits competing for your donations at this time of year. We also understand that you don't have to give. But we hope you will consider giving to AGW – and here's a few reasons why. We operate on a nonprofit basis and are reliant solely on donations…

Dear Aggie, I’ve heard cutting out meat from my diet will help save the world. Is that true? Climate-Conscious in Cincinnati Dear Climate-Conscious, Thanks so much for writing in and asking such a timely question. We actually wrote a short article about this recently to help clear things up. Here’s an excerpt and a link to the whole article: There’s been a lot of talk lately about the environmental and animal welfare impacts of animal agriculture. First we were told…

Dear Aggie, Why are certification programs necessary? Doesn’t USDA or anyone else have any general farm animal welfare guidelines for farms and slaughter plants? Thanks, Asking in Alaska Dear Alaska, The truth is that voluntary programs, such as those offered by AGW, offer the most detailed animal management and welfare standards. In the U.S., only three main pieces of federal legislation relate to animal welfare: 1. Humane Methods of Slaughter Act This act does not apply to poultry or other…

Dear Aggie, I heard you only certify family farms – what does that mean? Thanks, Mom in Maine Dear Mom, Thanks for asking. We all want to support our nation’s farmers and I’m sure you’ve seen the growth in the use of this term in the marketplace – especially as a way to imply wholesome practices without any further evidence. We define a family farm as follow (available in our definitions document here): “A farm rented or owned on which…