Project Overview
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Animal Products: dairy
Practices
- Animal Production: feed/forage, housing, parasite control, animal protection and health, grazing - continuous, feed formulation, feed rations, grazing management, herbal medicines, livestock breeding, manure management, mineral supplements, pasture renovation, preventive practices, grazing - rotational, stockpiled forages, vaccines
- Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, extension, focus group, networking, workshop
- Farm Business Management: whole farm planning, budgets/cost and returns, agricultural finance, risk management
- Production Systems: holistic management, organic agriculture
- Sustainable Communities: leadership development, sustainability measures
Proposal abstract:
The veterinary profession has a respected presence in the farm community and often is the primary source of information for dairy producers. Veterinarians currently enrolled in a 3-year continuing education program (Ohio Dairy Health and Management Certificate Program) have requested additional specialized training and/or skills in sustainable dairy practices for both conventional and organic systems.
The major outcomes for veterinarians and Extension specialists will include the following: increased level of knowledge/skills in 50 participants on sustainable dairy practices, establish a functional educational network designed to enhance the flow of sustainable, research-based, knowledge/practices, and increased dairy farm profitability and stability through implementation of learned practices.
A collaborative learning approach (i.e., in-class lectures, group discussions, case-based learning, demonstrations-farm visits, and out-of-class assignments) will be adopted to achieve our objectives. The program will be delivered through eight 2-3 day workshops (4 per year). Round table discussion and out-of-class assignments constitute an important part of learning, and are designed to emphasize key learning objectives and allow participants to apply principles with their clients. Comprehensive surveys, pre-designed evaluation forms and pre- and post-tests of knowledge will be implemented to determine the level of knowledge gained by participants and the project impacts. Our prior experiences have shown that these learning methodologies can be effective with measurable field impacts.
Project objectives from proposal:
Short Term
1) Increased level of knowledge/skills in 50 participants on sustainable dairy practices.
Intermediate Term
2) Establish a functional educational network designed to enhance the flow of sustainable, research-based, knowledge/practices.
Long Term
3) Increased dairy farm profitability and stability through implementation of learned practices.