Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Inc

DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A GUIDED PATHWAY TO INDEPENDENT DAIRY FARM OWNERSHIP, DEVELOPING GRAZING CAREERS, AND STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. THIS MISSIONAL 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 SUSTAINABILITY 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 ADMINISTRATION AS 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. CLIMATE CURRICULUM FOR MANAGED GRAZING INNOVATION CENTER MANAGED 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 TO 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. FARMER-STAKEHOLDER SYMPOSIUM THE 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.