frequently asked questions

Beef (cattle) are not inherently carbon neutral, as they emit carbon into the atmosphere via the methane they exhale, just like all mammals do. At Forward Farms, we measure the carbon emitted by cattle on a ranch or farm and compare it to the amount of carbon sequestered by the farm's plants (grasses, crops, trees). If the amount of carbon sequestered is equal to or greater than the carbon emitted by the cattle (and the tractors, trucks, and other equipment), then the beef qualifies as 'raised on a 100% carbon neutral farm.' It requires extensive regenerative farming practices, along with careful emission and sequestration measurement, to determine how much carbon a farm or ranch emits or sequesters yearly.

Forward Farms beef is exclusively grass-fed and grass-finished, never grain-fed, ensuring a cleaner taste that’s also higher in Omega 3 fatty acids compared to grain-fed beef. Our commitment to grass feeding, using high-protein grasses year-round, not only minimizes environmental impact but also enhances the beef's complexity, flavor, and tenderness. We adhere to strict internal grading standards to ensure no beef is sold unless it meets our high criteria for quality and taste.

The genesis of Forward Farms was to encourage regenerative farming practices in the beef industry as an alternative to conventional chemical and diesel fuel-intensive farming techniques—factory farming. When a high density of animals is raised on a small amount of land for a long period (factory farming), it destroys the plants and grasses needed for healthy soil. Healthy soil is essential for carbon sequestration.

Carbon Neutral Raised Beef is as much about the lifestyle of the animals as it is about the sequestration of the farm. No other US company brings beef raised on 100% carbon neutral farms to market. While there are other programs that aim to lower cattle emissions, their overall carbon emissions remain positive and often high. In addition to being better for the planet, our beef is born and raised in the US without growth hormones or antibiotics.

The cattle within the Forward Farms collective are 100% grass-fed and grass-finished on farms and ranches throughout the Pacific Northwest and InterMountain West. We have worked diligently to ensure that our beef delivers exceptional flavor and tenderness, a quality often hard to find in grass-fed and grass-finished beef products.

At Forward Farms, we do not use mRNA vaccines in our cattle. They are antibiotic free and don't have any added hormones. Our focus is on sustainable and regenerative farming practices that prioritize the health of our animals and the environment. We believe in raising our cattle naturally, ensuring they are healthy without relying on such technologies.

Reconsidering the impact of cows is essential because, when managed properly, they enhance ecological balance and sustainability. Livestock and soil have a symbiotic relationship that improves soil health, especially with cattle throughout the United States.

Regenerative grazing practices use several key strategies:

• Manure Management: Cow manure enriches the soil with essential nutrients, enhancing fertility through composting and proper management.
• High-Density Grazing: This promotes deeper root growth in plants, improving soil structure and health.
• Plant Diversity: Cows convert indigestible grasses into protein and nutrient-rich manure, supporting soil health and biodiversity.

By leveraging these natural processes, cows become active participants in fostering richer soils, healthier plants, and a more balanced environment.

Forward Farms is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. We are a collective of 53 farms spread across the InterMountain West and the Pacific Northwest. Each farm is dedicated to raising carbon-neutral, grass-fed beef without the use of antibiotics or hormones, setting new standards for sustainable agriculture.

Achieving carbon neutral raised beef has required significant effort, time, and learning to ensure our data is accurate. With the help of carbon consultants and university studies, we determined that our cattle emit an average of 1.301 metric tons of methane (CH4) per year per head in our carbon accounting.

The farms and ranches where our cattle are raised sequester more carbon per head each year than the cattle emit. This sequestration balance is how we achieve carbon neutral raised beef.

We are proud to say that as a collective, Forward Farms achieves carbon neutrality or better. While not all individual farms and ranches are carbon neutral yet, many are on their way, and we support them through this transition.

To qualify, each farm undergoes detailed carbon quantification for activities like growing plants, raising animals, operating equipment, and more. Our team uses greenhouse gas accounting software and standard sequestration tables to estimate the carbon footprint accurately.

Farms achieving net carbon sequestration are eligible for our carbon neutral program. We are committed to advancing sustainable agriculture across all our operations.

We do not purchase any carbon credits, such as rainforest credits. Forward Farms is a collection of more than fifty (and growing) farms and ranches in the Intermountain and Pacific Northwest, which together have a net carbon footprint better than zero. Some of our ranches have excess carbon sequestration, which is used to offset those ranches in our group that either have not yet completed their carbon footprint study (transition ranches) or are not carbon neutral on their own. So, while individual farms and ranches within the group might not be carbon neutral, the group as a whole is.

We are currently available in over 650 stores across the U.S., specifically in the Pacific Northwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. We're driven to expand our presence in grocery stores throughout the United States so that everyone can experience the taste of our 100% Carbon Neutral Raised Beef. You can check out our current store locations on our Where to Find Us page on our website.