Development of Technical Training and Support for Agricultural Service Providers & Farmers in Certified Organic Dairy Production Systems through eOrganic

USDA OREIeXtension Project Type$759,51610/01/2010 – 09/30/2014

Background

Over past 10 years, dairy fastest growing segment of organic industry.

Research-based info is lagging.

Currently little/no support for many organic dairy farmers from service providers around the U.S.

Pressing needs for technical assistance among organic dairy producers, especially new farmers.

Long-Term Goal

Build a network of agricultural service providers knowledgeable and confident about organic dairy production systems who are better able to provide direct assistance to current and/or aspiring organic dairy farmers.

Develop Train-the-Trainer Certificate Program.

Project Team

PI: Heather Darby, University of Vermont

Co-PI: Cindy Daley, California State University, Chico

Key Personnel, University of Vermont: Project Coordinator:

Debra Heleba Videographer: Amanda

Gervais Budget Manager: Kerry

Whalen

Contractors/Consultants: Harriet Behar, MOSES Marti Day, NC State

Extension Sarah Flack, SF

Consulting Ed Maltby, NODPA Lisa McCrory, Earthwise

Farm and Forest Jim Riddle, University of

MN eOrganic Dairy Team

Members / Other SMEs

Objective 1: Develop training materials.

Ask an Expert Managed by NODPA

20 FAQs24 Articles and BulletinsVideos

10 instructional video clips on equipment use and production methods

6 whole farm case study videos

20 Narrated PowerPoint Presentations

30 Webinars Introductory series:

Critical issues for organic dairy farmers

Advanced series: Herd health and nutrition

2 Online, Asynchronous Moodle Courses An Introduction to

Organic Dairy Production Systems

Advanced Organic Dairy Production

2

24 New Articles/Bulletins(with existing articles)

10 instructional video clips on equipment use/production

methods6 whole farm case study videos

20 Narrated PowerPoint

Presentations

30 archived webinars

2 Online, Asynchronous

Moodle Courses

Intro: Critical Issues for Organic Dairy Farmers

Advanced: Herd Health and Nutrition

Maximizing home-grown feeds.A look at the economics. It all starts with soils. Intensifying for Management-Intensive Grazing. Managing herd health in tight economic times. Organic dairy profitability.A look at mastitis. Keys to quality organic forages.A view from the farm.Advanced Grazing Management.Dairy Nutrition on a high forage diet (101). Locomotion and body condition scoring. Animal Welfare.Organic Fly Control. Organic Dairy Certification Review and

Updates.Raising calves organically.

Holistic Management From the Soil Up.Organic Treatments for the Organic Dairy.Herd Health: Case Studies and Treatments. Nutrition on a High Forage Diet (201). External and Internal Parasite Management

Strategies. Grazing Management: Nutrition and Behavior

on Pasture. Healthy Feeds Make Healthy Livestock. Organic Dairy Certification Review and

Updates. Animal Welfare: Housing and husbandry. Breeding the organic herd. Troubleshooting calf care. Homeopathy for the organic herd. Impact of grass-based organic production on

antioxidant content of milk. How low can you go with grain

supplementation under intensive grazing management.

Webinar Topics

Course 1: Intro to Organic Dairy Production Systems

Course 2: Advanced Organic Dairy Production

Module 1: Fundamentals of a sustainable program.

Module 2: Soil biology.

Module 3: Growing organic forages.

Module 4: Pasture management .

Module 5: Integrated Pest Management.

Module 6: Principles of managing calves.

Module 7: Holistic Herd Health.

Module 8: Effective business planning.

Module 9: Direct marketing case studies.

Module 10: Certification & inspection.

Module 11: Course eval. and discussion.

Module 1: Systems in review.

Module 2: Evaluating your soil analysis.

Module 3: Matching forages to your resource base.

Module 4: Managed Intensive Grazing (MIG).

Module 5: Herd Health Programming.

Module 6: Mineral nutrition.

Module 7: Managing your herd data.

Module 8: Financial planning.

Module 9: Transitioning farms.

Module 10: Course eval. and discussion.

Moodle Courses

Target 500 ag service providers and farmers. Cooperative Extension USDA: NRCS, TSPs, ARS, etc. Non-profit personnel Veterinarians, Crop consultants, Nutritionists New/transitioning farmers (Undergraduate students)

Use eOrganic.info (fed to eXtension.org), YouTube, GoToMeetings, Moodle, etc.

Objective 2: Deliver training materials.

Objective 3: Facilitate service provider-farmer networks.

4 regional learning hubs: Gathering place for farmers and service

providers to view webinars as co-learners. Provide info access for farmers who do not

have high-speed Internet. Focus groups to receive feedback on

webinars. Act as local support groups.

Where “Internet life” and “real life” intersect.Develop / adapt info to region.

Learning Hub

Learning Hub

Learning Hub

Learning Hub

WebinarPresenter

Regional Learning Hub Concept with Webinars

On-farm activity

Focus Group

Additional OREI Collaborations

Integrated Project Improved Organic Milk Production through the Use of

the Condensed Tannin-Containing Forage Legume Birdsfoot Trefoil; Jennifer MacAdam, Utah State University

R&E Planning Project Research and Extension Needs Assessment of the

Organic Dairy Industry in the Northeast; Andre Brito, University of New Hampshire