Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Inc

- TO PROVIDE A GUIDED PATHWAY TO INDEPENDENT GRAZING FARM OWNERSHIP, DEVELOPING GRAZING CAREERS, AND STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF RURAL COMMUNITES AND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. THIS MISSION SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY: (1) CONNECTING CURRENT AND ASPIRING GRAZIERS IN THE TRANSFER OF FARMS AND GRAZIERS' SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE; (2) DEVELOPING ALLIANCES WITH AGRICULTURAL AND CONSUMER GROUPS; AND (3) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS TO INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF GRAZING FARMERS. - TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTING AND ADMINISTERING THE CORPORATION'S DAIRY GRAZIER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, AS SET FORTH IN THE DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP NATIONAL STANDARDS REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR-EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION.- TO SECURE THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SUSTAINABLITLY OF THE CORPORATION'S DAIRY GRAZIER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP (DGA) IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND AN ACCREDITED FORMAL APPRENTICESHIP IN "MANAGED GRAZING" DAIRY PRODUCTION. THE APPRENTICESHIP CONSISTS OF 4000 HOURS OVER TWO YEARS AND COMBINES ON-FARM EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING UNDER AN APPROVED MASTER DAIRY GRAZIER WITH RELATED INSTRUCTION, WHICH INCLUDES FORMAL COURSEWORK THROUGH ACCREDITED EDUCATION PROVIDERS, DISCUSSION GROUPS, PASTURE WALKS, AND FARMING CONFERENCES. DGA DEVELOPED THE CURRICULUM AND WORK-BASED COMPETENCIES THAT ARE REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR THE OCCUPATION OF DAIRY GRAZIER. ENTRANTS BECOME APPRENTICES, JOURNEY DAIRY GRAZIER, AND EVENTUALLY MASTERS THEMSELVES ON A CAREER PATH THAT HAS BEEN USED IN THE TRADES FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS OUTREACH AND RECRUITS POTENTIAL MASTERS AND APPRENTICES, ASSESSES AND APPROVES MASTER (EMPLOYER) FARM SITES, COORDINATES RELATED INSTRUCTION COMPONENTS, MONITORS THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP, TRACKS APPRENTICE PROGRESS THROUGH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND RELATED INSTRUCTION HOURS AND REQUIREMENTS, AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL, TECHNICAL, AND BUSINESS PLANNING SUPPORT SERVICES TO APPRENTICESHIP PARTICIPANTS. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIONAS DGA HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND GEOGRAPHICALLY AND TO DEVELOP BOARD LEADERSHIP, PARTNER COORDINATION, AND PROGRAMMING THAT ENSURES THAT HIGH QUALITY TRAINING IN MANAGED GRAZING DAIRY PRODUCTION IS DELIVERED IN A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT, RELEVANT TO EVOLVING MARKET AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS, AND INCLUSIVE OF DIVERSE PARTICIPANTS. IN 2021, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THESE GOALS DGA ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING COMMITTEE (NATC) APPROVAL OF 10 NEW GRADUATES CERTIFIED AS JOURNEY DAIRY GRAZIERS AND 17 NEW MENTOR DAIRY GRAZIERS 117 NEW APPLICANTS FOR AN APPRENTICESHIP OR INTERNSHIP ON THE DGA WEBSITE, 17 HIRED AS APPRENTICES AND ONE AS AN INTERN 40 CURRENT APPRENTICES WITH A COMBINED MORE THAN 68,000 ON-FARM TRAINING HOURS AND 4,400 RELATED INSTRUCTION HOURS EDUCATION COORDINATOR RETREAT FOR TRAINING, NETWORKING, AND BRAINSTORMING TOOK PLACE SEPTEMBER 14 TO 17, 2021 IN VERMONT ENHANCED COORDINATION BETWEEN APPRENTICESHIP DIRECTOR AND MGIC DIRECTOR TO LINK CONTENT OF VIRTUAL CLASSES WITH ON-FARM TRAINING CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT OF DGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DAIRY CONCEPT DGA BOARD AND STAFF PARTICIPATION IN A SOCIAL JUSTICE TRAINING OFFERED BY LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT DGA BOARD APPROVAL OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE "MASTER DAIRY GRAZIER" TO "MENTOR DAIRY GRAZIER AND SUBSEQUENT CHANGES TO THE DGA WEBSITE, PROGRAM RELATED DOCUMENTS, AND OUTREACH MATERIALS CONSULTATION WITH JESSICA DURAN, A RECENT DGA GRADUATE IN MICHIGAN WHO IS BILINGUAL, HAS HER DVM FROM UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO, AND PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR HISPANIC DAIRY WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS SUBMISSION OF GRANT PROPOSAL TO USDA-NIFA 2501 OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND VETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS PROGRAM TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING SPANISH LANGUAGE CURRICULUM PARTICIPATION IN AG + ANTI-RACISM COHORT OF MIDWESTERN WHITE FARM AND RURAL ORGANIZERS TO ADDRESS RACIAL DISPARITIES IN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT IN EASTERN WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, AND OHIO ALTFRID KRUSENBAUM CONTINUES TO SERVE AS EDUCATION COORDINATOR FOR EASTERN WISCONSIN AND ALSO CONDUCTS MONTHLY WEBINARS ON PERTINENT MANAGED GRAZING TOPICS VIA ZOOM THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO MENTORS, JOURNEY DAIRY GRAZIERS, APPRENTICES, INTERNS, AND APPRENTICE CANDIDATES THROUGHOUT THE DGA NETWORK. IN MICHIGAN AND OHIO, EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN DISRUPTED SOMEWHAT OWING TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2020 AND STAFF CHANGES AT ADMINISTRATIVE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS W.K. KELLOGG BIOLOGICAL STATION - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (MSU) AND OHIO ECOLOGICAL FOOD AND FARMING ASSOCIATION (OEFFA) IN 2021. DGA IS PROVIDING TRAINING TO CURRENT AND NEW EDUCATION COORDINATORS AND IS ALSO SEEKING OUT NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO RECRUIT POTENTIAL MENTORS AND APPRENTICES. PROGRAM STATUS IN TARGET AREAS IS AS FOLLOWS: EASTERN WISCONSIN - 35 APPROVED MENTORS, 6 MENTOR-APPRENTICE PAIRS, AND 12 JOURNEY DAIRY GRAZIERS. MICHIGAN 7 APPROVED MENTORS AND ONE JOURNEY DAIRY GRAZIER OHIO 4 APPROVED MENTORS AND 2 MENTOR- APPRENTICE PAIRS WEBINAR SERIES 2021 OUTCOMES: AUGUST ORGANIC OPTIONS FOR FLY CONTROL IN GRAZING DAIRY CATTLE" - 16 PARTICIPANTS JUNE-JULY [CANCELLED] MAY "MARKETING VALUE-ADDED MILK" - 20 PARTICIPANTS APRIL "GENETIC SELECTION FOR THE GRAZING DAIRY COW" - 12 PARTICIPANTS MARCH "PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT IMPROVEMENT & SPECIES SELECTION" - 26 PARTICIPANTS FEBRUARY "DAIRY FARM FINANCIAL ANALYSIS & BENCHMARKING: HOW CAN IT HELP IMPROVE YOUR PROFITABILITY?" - 31 PARTICIPANTS JANUARY "GRAZING AND FEEDING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF MILK" - 30 PARTICIPANTSOVERALL, ACCORDING TO SUBMITTED EVALUATIONS FOR 2021 WEBINARS, AN AVERAGE OF 92.4% LEARNED A LOT OR GREAT DEAL AND 94.8% RATED THE WEBINAR VERY GOOD OR GREAT. (NOTE: MOST WEBINAR PARTICIPANTS ANSWERED ZOOM EVALUATION POLL, BUT THOSE WHO JOINED BY PHONE DO NOT HAVE TO ACCESS.)CLIMATE CURRICULUM FOR MANAGED GRAZING INNOVATION CENTERMANAGED GRAZING INNOVATION CENTER (MGIC) IS DGA'S ONLINE SCHOOL THAT PROVIDES CUSTOM COURSEWORK FOR APPRENTICES AND OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT MANAGED GRAZING PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP. STUDENTS CAN TAKE CLASSES INDIVIDUALLY OR COMPLETE ALL SIX FOR THE MANAGED GRAZING DAIRY CERTIFICATE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR APPRENTICESHIP. BECAUSE MANAGED GRAZING WORKS WITH NATURAL SYSTEMS IT HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED A BEST PRACTICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES. PERENNIAL SYSTEMS ALSO ALLOW PRODUCERS WITHSTAND AND ADAPT TO CHANGES IN WEATHER PATTERNS. SUSTAINABLE PASTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT SEQUESTER CARBON, BUILD HEALTHY SOILS, AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY HAVE ALREADY BEEN INTEGRATED INTO MGIC CLASSES, "SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND THE "MANAGED GRAZING SYSTEMS FOR DAIRY CATTLE," BOTH OF WHICH ARE REQUIRED FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP AND ARE OFFERED DURING FALL SEMESTER. IN 2021, ADDITIONS TO THESE COURSES WILL INCORPORATE CONTENT FROM THE BETA FARMS, INCLUDING: INTEGRATION OF ON-FARM VIDEO FROM NEW 3RD FARM SET UP AND CONVERSION FROM ROW CROPS TO MANAGED GRAZING DEMONSTRATION OF PADDOCKTRAC, A SONAR BASED TECHNOLOGY FOR MEASURING FORAGE PRODUCTION DEVELOPED BY DGA PARTNERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI DISCUSSION OF HOW PADDOCKTRAC AND INTEGRATED WEB-BASED GRAZING WEDGE DATA CAN BE USED AS TOOL FOR MANAGING RESIDUAL GROWTH IN PASTURES (ORGANIC MATTER, MICROBIAL BIOMASS, SOIL TEXTURE, MICRO CLIMATES)IN 2021, 28 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN SPRING SEMESTER CLASSES AND 14 PEOPLE IN THE CONDENSED SIX-WEEK SUMMER SESSION. SO FAR 22 PEOPLE HAVE REGISTERED FOR FALL SEMESTER BEGINS SEPTEMBER 27 AND ENDS DECEMBER 17, 2021. FARMER-STAKEHOLDER SYMPOSIUMTHE DGA GRAZING SUMMIT IS A NATIONAL MANAGED GRAZING DAIRY GATHERING WHERE THE DGA MENTORS AND PARTNERS COME TOGETHER NOT ONLY TO NETWORK, SOCIALIZE, AND LEARN BUT ALSO TO GAIN PERSPECTIVE OF NATIONAL LABOR TRENDS, MARKETS, AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR MANAGED GRAZING DAIRY FARMS. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN THIS YEAR TO SHOWCASE EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THE DGA BETA-FARMS COMPLEX IN MEDFORD (SEE SECTION BELOW) AND IT WILL BE HELD IN MICHIGAN IN 2022. THE AGENDA FOR THE 2021 GRAZING SUMMIT, WHICH FOCUSED ON HOW FARMS WERE BEING USED TO MODEL OUT INNOVATIVE FINANCE, FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND CONSUMER PRODUCT MARKETS, INCLUDED: PRESENTATION ON BETA-FARMS DEVELOPMENT, LAND MANAGEMENT, AND WORKFORCE TRAINING TOUR OF CREAMERY FOR MAKING VALUE-ADDED GRASS-FED BUTTER DEMONSTRATION OF PADDOCKTRAC TECHNOLOGY AND GRAZING WEDGE BY UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI DISCUSSION OF FORAGE INNOVATIONS FOR CLIMATE SMART GRAZING SYSTEMS PRESENTATIONS BY GRASSROOTS CARBON AND INDIGO AG ON CURRENT AND POTENTIAL CARBON AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES MARKETSMENTOR PARTICIPANTS OVERWHELMINGLY FOUND THE 2021 GRAZING SUMMIT TO BE VALUABLE, WITH THOSE RESPONDING TO THE EVALUATION (14 OF 23) RATING THE CONTENT 4.7/ 5 AND 4.9/5 AFFIRMING THE NEED TO HOLD SUCH EVENT ANNUALLY OR BI-ANNUALLY. THEY WERE MORE DIVIDED ON THE QUESTION OF OPENING THIS TYPE OF EVENT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH SEVERAL CITING THE NEED TO ADDRESS ADVANCED DAIRY BUSINESS TOPICS THAT MAY NOT BE RELEVANT TO LARGER AUDIENCE.