The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which administers the National Dairy FARM Program (FARM), has announced they’ve published a 2020 Year in Review. This serves as an annual summary of the achievements and program developments of the FARM Program.
According to NMPF, the Year in Review details the resources and tools developed across all program areas to help farmers become more fully engaged with the program. It also shows how aspects of FARM were brought into a virtual environment. Events like the annual Evaluator Conference, monthly Evaluator Engagement Hours, and the program’s Quick Convos series gave FARM staff the ability to connect with stakeholders online as 2020 presented unrivaled challenges.
The review also summarizes changes made to the FARM Program areas last year. Some of those changes include the FARM Animal Care Version 4 going into effect on January 1 with updates supporting closer farmer-veterinarian relationships, requiring continuing education for all employees, and adding a new standard for pain management when disbudding animals. FARM also launched Version 2 of the Environmental Stewardship program which includes updated crop emissions factors, a breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions by gas type, a metric on the use of nutrient management plans, and the ability to capture the benefits of solid-liquid separation, and solar and wind energy.
To download the 2020 Year in Review click here. For a printed copy, e-mail: dairyfarm@nmpf.org.