The Free Workshops Will Be Held in Five Locations and Qualify as National FARM Training
The first Animal Care Workshop, hosted by the Center for Dairy Excellence, PA Beef Council, the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP) and Penn State Extension, will be held on March 4 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Dairy producers and their employees are invited to four other identical workshops that are being held across the state throughout March and April. The workshops will focus on animal care skill-building to help dairy producers fulfill training requirements in four areas of the National FARM program. A Spanish interpreter will be present at each event, and attendees can also get certified in Calf Care and Quality Assurance (CCQA) or get recertified in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) if they are interested.
“As you and your dairy team work to enhance efficiency and cow comfort, we hope you’ll join us at one of these animal care workshops this spring,” said Valerie Mason-Faith, Risk Education Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “The workshops are offered at no cost, and they also qualify as National FARM training. After rotating through the four training areas during the workshops, you’ll get a physical certificate that you can save in your files to show your commitment to FARM standards.”
The training areas for the workshops include: 1. Antibiotic Stewardship, Pain Management, and On-Farm Chemotherapeutic Stewardship. 2. Calf Care and Nutrition. 4. Biosecurity and Premise Mapping for Dairy Producers. 4. Fitness for Transport and Quality Assurance.
During the workshop, speakers from these training areas will help dairy producers and their employees answer the following questions:
- What Average Daily Gain (ADG) do you need to achieve in order to reach optimal growth targets by your desired Age at Calving?
- What are the critical control points (CCPs) on your dairy farm where disease transmission risks are highest?
- What are two of the conditions for approved extra-label drug usage in dairy cattle?
- How can you mitigate disease risk in your pre-weaned calves?
- How are animal movement and traffic flow managed within and around your premises?
- Are there any protocols or management decisions you could alter or areas to make improvements when it comes to fitness to transport and quality assurance?
- What procedures do you have on your farm to ensure that all medications are being administered at the right time to the right animal at the right dosage – and that you are following all necessary meat and milk withholds?
Lunch will be provided at each workshop, and attendees can attend an optional tour of a nearby dairy farm at the end of each event. Biosecurity protocols will be closely followed during each farm tour. The events will be held on the following dates and locations:
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Cumberland County)
Cumberland County Extension Office
310 Allen Road
Carlisle, PA 17013
Optional Dairy Farm Tour: Stover Farms
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Lancaster County)
Lancaster Farm and Home Center
1383 Arcadia Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
Optional Dairy Farm Tour: Franklin View Farms LLC
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Crawford County)
Crawford County Extension Office
1099 Morgan Village Road, Suite A
Meadville, PA 16335
Optional Dairy Farm Tour: Apple Shamrock Dairy Farm
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Mifflin County)
Belleville Community Center
95 N. Penn Street
Belleville, PA 17004
Optional Dairy Farm Tour: Kish View Farm
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Bradford County)
Troy Fire Hall
88 Firehouse Drive
Troy, PA 16947
Optional Dairy Farm Tour: Gorrell Dairy LLC
To register for one of the free animal care workshops, call 717-346-0849 or visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/animal-care. Please include the names of employees who will be attending from your operation.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information about the events, contact Valerie Mason-Faith at vmason@centerfordairyexcellence.org or call 717-346-0849.
The National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management works to set the highest standards when it comes to animal care, workplace settings, and environmental and antibiotic stewardship. These workshops qualify as National FARM training for dairy producers and employees.