1. Name of farm: Lubbers Family Farm
2. Farmer’s/Farm Family name: Jeff and Karen Lubbers
3. Street address: 862 Luce SW
4. City: Grand Rapids
5. State (2-letter abbreviation): MI
6. Zip: 49534
7. Phone number: 616-453-4257
8. Email: info@lubbersfarm.com
9. Website: lubbersfarm.com
Type of Farm/Farm Practices
10. Are you Certified Organic? No
11. Are you Certified Biodynamic? No
12. If you are not Certified Organic, do you use organic production methods? Yes
13. Do you use synthetic fertilizers? No
14. Do you use any of the following: nonorganic pesticides, herbicides, parasiticides, or fungicides? No
Animal Husbandry
15. Do you keep livestock? Yes
16. What animals do you keep? (list breeds)
cows: The dairy cows are Jersey; the beef are the old-time Herefords.
pigs: Varies–we always attempt to find heritage feeders.
chickens: Varies when we change our flock but always heritage–right now Barred Rocks.
Ducks (list breeds):
Turkeys (list breeds):
Other Poultry (list type and breeds):
Goats (list breeds):
Sheep (list breeds): Hair Sheep
Other Animals (list type and breeds):
17. Do you use antibiotics? No
18. Are the animals pasture-fed? Yes
19. How much and for how long: all during the growing season
20. Do you practice managed grazing? Yes
21. Do you apply compost or compost tea? Yes
22. Do you apply other soil amendments? Yes
23. Do you use supplemental feed?
For poultry (list type): certified organic poultry feed or a custom mix of organic corn and soy with local sustainably raised other grains
For cows, sheep, and/or goats (list type): certified organic dairy feed or a custom mix of organic corn and soy with local sustainably raised other grains
For pigs (list type): local non-GMO sustainably raised grains plus whey from our creamery
Raw Milk
24. Do you supply raw milk? No (Cow share program currently full with an extensive waiting list we are no longer adding to.)
25. Do you keep your barn and milk room clean? Yes
26. Do you keep the cows clean/teats washed? Yes
27. Do you thoroughly wash your milking equipment after every milking? Yes
28. Are cows with mastitis or other health problems excluded from milking? Yes
29. Are cows tested for disease Yes
Which tests, and how often? Cows are tested according to Michigan law prior to joining our herd. We then conduct the CMT test monthly.
30. Is the milk routinely tested for pathogens, coliform count? Yes
Which tests, and how often? We test monthly for SPC, Colliforms, SCC, Fat and Protein. We test quarterly for specific pathogens — typically ecoli, listeria, salmonella and staph.
31. Is the farm water routinely tested? Yes
32. Are milk and milk products kept well chilled? Yes
33. Other/Explain (list any other routine practices, or explain any of your answers above? We use antibiotics very sparingly and then only to save a cow. When on antibiotic treatment their milk is not included.
Butchering Practices
35. Meat butchered at a USDA-certified or state-certified abattoir? Yes
36. Meat butchered on the farm? No
37. Describe or explain any butchering practices: In compliance with Michigan law, our animals are delivered to a local, thankfully small, USDA certified butchering facilities. The pork facility is also Humane certified.
Farm Products
38. Please list the products you sell and list current prices: Visit the Lubbers Farm website
Beef/veal: Succulent grassfed beef — 100% grassfed with mother’s milk.
Wheyfed Pork – Pastured pork fed with whey and organic or local grains.
Raw Milk Aged Cheese, , both Alpine style-Phocas, Brighid
Prepared foods (list typical offerings): Fermented breads from the bakery on our farm: Whole Wheat, Raisin Cinnamon, Multi-Grain, Rolls, Buns, Crackers
***See various websites for current pricing:
lubbersfarm.com; cowslipcreamery.com; www.littlerooster.net
***Cow share program currently full with an extensive waiting list we are no longer adding to. UPDATE: Lubbers no longer offers a cow share program.
Raw butter:
Raw cream:
Raw ice cream:
Raw sour cream:
Raw yogurt:
Raw kefir:
Raw cottage cheese:
Whey:
Other dairy (list):
Goat/kid:
Mutton/lamb:
Other meat:
Chicken:
Duck:
Turkey:
Other poultry:
Eggs (list type, chicken, duck, etc) :
Honey:
Produce (list typical offerings):
Other:
Additional Information
39. Do you only sell animals that are raised on your farm at the address listed?
No
39a. Details:
Our lamb is raised by a friend on her farm in Michigan in accordance with our principles–entirely grassfed on untreated pastures. The lambs are born on her farm in the spring. Some of our succulent beef is born on our neighbor’s farm (less than 1/2 mile down the road).
40. Are the animals born on your farm at the address listed? No
40a. Details:
Some of the animals are born on our farm, especially milk cows. The pigs are typically born on a variety of small farms using sustainable practices. We buy them as they are weaned and raise them on our farm with whey from the creamery. (See above for lamb and succulent beef.)
41. Do you ever purchase animals from auctions or from your processor or do you ever buy parts from your processor (whole pork bellies…)? No
41a. Details:
42. Do you personally attend to your animals at least once a day or do you hire help or farmers to do that for you? Personally Attend
42a. Details:
43. Do you purchase pre-mixed feed from an elevator or do you grind your own? Purchase
43a. Details:
