Glenville

A Glenville farmer with goals of providing healthy food faces 13 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and failure to provide sustenance to the livestock on his West Wind Acres farm.

Joshua Rockwood, who raises pigs and cattle, was arraigned in Town Court on March 12 on the charges related to neglect of the animals and frozen water for their consumption.

The pork and beef he sells is marketed as pasture-raised, commonly meaning that the animals are left to graze and live year-round outdoors. Pasture-raised meat is prized in the culinary world for its complex flavor that some consumers consider superior. Many consider pasture-raising to be a more humane form of farming.

A complaint was filed with police in February and search warrants were executed on March 3 and March 15. Beyond frozen water reports, police files show that feces was found in the water, and some animals were in poor health, including frostbite on the ears of pigs.

Rockwood also has work horses and a pony on the farm, and three horses were seized and placed under the care of Peaceful Acres Horses, an animal rescue organization in Rotterdam.

Rockwood maintains that the charges are false. He has documented his farming practices and the legal actions on his website (westwindacres.com) and Facebook page (Friends of West Wind Acres). He claims that his eagerness to assist the police and escort them on a farm tour led to the additional legal actions.

He is represented by attorney Andrew Safranko of Clifton Park. A GoFundMe account has been set up to collect online donations for his legal expenses.

A testimonial from Mandak Veterinary Services on the farm's website states that during a visit in February, all animals appeared to have adequate food, water, and shelter and were in good health.

Many small-farm proponents have responded across social media in support of Rockwood. Comments on the website's blog show fear of this happening to other small farms due to a lack of basic understanding of pasturing practices. Though the animals seem to be out in conditions unsuitable to humans, the welfare of the animals isn't in jeopardy, they claim.

Rockwood is to appear in Town Court Tuesday night.