Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Inc

Programs: 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. The following are summaries of the largest program service areas:outreach - because dga is a relatively new and growing program, significant staff time and resources go into outreach and recruitment. Outreach efforts in 2014 included developing and printing outreach materials, maintaining a website and social media presence, advertising in dairy publications, staffing booths at university career fairs and farming conferences, giving presentations at events organized by partner organizations, and networking with local grazing groups in wisconsin and minnesota. Through these activities dga was able to increase the number of apprentice and master applicants, and improve the quantity and quality of master-apprentice matches. Coordinate related instruction - apprenticeship combines work-based training with related instruction that includes both formal coursework and informal educational opportunities. Dga staff works with instructors at northcentral technical college, northeast wisconsin technical college, and the wisconsin school for beginning dairy and livestock farmers at the university of wisconsin madison to schedule and deliver courses required for the apprenticeship in seminar, online, and distance learning format. These courses include pasture management, dairy nutrition, herd health, milk quality and soils & composting. Dga staff also works with masters and local professionals to coordinate topics and speakers for pasture walks and peer-to-peer discussion groups for apprentice cohorts. They provide support and monitoring of apprentices to ensure they register, attend, and successfully complete related instruction requirements. In 2014 dga was able to deliver required courses to apprentices, three of whom graduated to journey dairy grazier status. Financial planning services - dga is designed to prepare beginning dairy farmers for independent farm ownership and so financial planning, alongside production knowledge and skills, is an important component of the apprenticeship. In order to help master and apprentices achieve their farming and career goals, dga has developed models of equity building, farm start-up, and farm transfer. In 2014 dga contracted and worked closely with cadwallader consulting, llc, to provide financial analysis and business planning services to master, apprentices, and journey dairy graziers. These activities have supported the transition of dga graduates into farm ownership and equity earning positions.