White Oak Pastures - Where it all Begins
White Oak Pastures is a regenerative, vertically integrated, zero-waste, family farm, located in Bluffton, GA, fiercely committed to the well-being of its animals and taking care of the land. The Harris family has raised cattle on the farm for five generations.
After World War II, along with much of the world, the farm integrated popular new industrial tools and chemicals, which have since that time proven to be destructive. In 1995, Will Harris III made the conscious decision to return to a production system that is better for the environment, the animals, and the people.
With "Radically Traditional Farming" practices, White Oak Pastures now operates the farm as a living ecosystem.
The regenerative practices include managed grazing to reduce carbon, recharge waterways, preserve habitats, and support rural economies.
The farm takes pride in its respect for the well-being of animals, treating them with dignity and care throughout their lives. They have received numerous certifications for ecological and animal welfare practices.
More information about the farm's practices can be found on their website here, as well as high profile news articles.
Carbon-Negative Cows
White Oak Pastures was the subject of a third-party carbon footprint study in 2019 by Quantis, a leading environmental research firm. General Mills commissioned the study to evaluate the potential of regenerative agriculture to sequester carbon. The study confirmed that White Oak Pastures' practices resulted in carbon capture that offset the majority of its production emissions--the study even found that the cattle had a net-negative impact, which is incredibly promising, even given the study's limitations and caveats. (Since that time, having seen the power of regenerative practices, General Mills has made commitments to advancing regenerative agriculture).