New versions of national dairy FARM programs released

By Jamie Martin

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program has released new versions of its Animal Care and Workforce Development Programs. These updates aim to refine and improve the agriculture-leading benchmarks for animal care and workforce best practices.

Emily Yeiser Stepp, executive director of FARM, highlighted the program's commitment to continuous improvement. “This summer showcases FARM’s dedication to preparing dairy producers for the future,” she said. The FARM Program is managed by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).

The Animal Care and Workforce Development programs undergo formal reviews every three years. The latest updates ensure that standards and processes are conducted through FARM’s on-farm evaluations.

Animal Care Version 5 focuses on refining standards related to euthanasia, fitness for transport, calf management, and continuing education. These standards were developed by the FARM Animal Care Task Force and the NMPF Animal Health and Wellbeing Committee, reflecting current industry research after a two-year review.

With input from farmers, animal scientists, and veterinarians, Animal Care Version 5 aims to provide consistency and improvement across the program. These standards will be in effect until June 30, 2027.

Workforce Development Version 2 updates the evaluation tool for assessing HR and safety best practices. The new version groups questions by themes and adds seven questions to strengthen the tool regarding communication and performance management.

This version was developed with input from the FARM Workforce Development Task Force and approved by the NMPF Executive Committee.

Environmental Stewardship Version 3 is set to launch later this summer. This update integrates a new greenhouse gas model, the Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) model from Cornell University.

The model will support dairy industry efforts to reach GHG neutrality by 2050 and respond to customer requests. The initial launch is scheduled for late July, with improvements planned for 2025.

The National Dairy FARM Program continues to enhance its standards and processes, ensuring that dairy producers are well-equipped for future challenges.

Photo Credit: national-milk-producers-federation