DAIRY GRAZING ALLIANCE INC

IN FALL 2024, DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP BECAME DAIRY GRAZING ALLIANCE. THE APPRENTICESHIP IS HOUSED INSIDE THE ALLIANCE. DAIRY GRAZING ALLIANCE BRINGS TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE DAIRY INDUSTRY WHO ARE DEDICATED TO GROWING ALL PARTS OF THE DAIRY GRAZING SECTOR. THE ALLIANCE IS FOCUSED ON THREE PRIMARY PILLARS: 1) ENHANCING THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF MANAGED GRAZING FARMS2) PROVIDING PRODUCERS WITH RESOURCES, EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE3) CONVENING DAIRY GRAZING STAKEHOLDERS TO BUILD AN EFFECTIVE MOVEMENT TO HELP GROW THE SECTORTHE ALLIANCE'S WORK WILL GROW ALL PARTS OF THE VALUE CHAIN. THIS MEANS BUILDING MARKETS, CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND PROVIDING THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO INCREASE PROFITABILITY FOR PRODUCERS WHO PRACTICE MANAGED GRAZING.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 4,000 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 GRAZIERS, 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. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIONAS DGA HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND GEOGRAPHICALLY AND TO DEVELOP BOARD LEADERSHIP, PARTNER COORDINATION, AND PROGRAMMING THAT ENSURES THAT HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING IN MANAGED GRAZING DAIRY PRODUCTION IS DELIVERED IN A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT, RELEVANT TO EVOLVING MARKET AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS, AND INCLUSIVE OF DIVERSE PARTICIPANTS. CLIMATE CURRICULUM FOR MANAGED GRAZING INNOVATION CENTERMANAGED GRAZING INNOVATION CENTER (MGIC) IS DGA'S ONLINE SCHOOL THAT PROVIDES CUSTOM COURSEWORK FOR APPRENTICES AND OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT MANAGED GRAZING PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP. STUDENTS CAN TAKE CLASSES INDIVIDUALLY OR COMPLETE ALL SIX FOR THE MANAGED GRAZING DAIRY CERTIFICATE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR APPRENTICES. BECAUSE MANAGED GRAZING WORKS WITH NATURAL SYSTEMS, IT HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED A BEST PRACTICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES. PERENNIAL SYSTEMS ALSO ALLOW PRODUCERS TO WITHSTAND AND ADAPT TO CHANGES IN WEATHER PATTERNS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PASTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT SEQUESTER CARBON, BUILD HEALTHY SOILS, AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY HAVE ALREADY BEEN INTEGRATED INTO MGIC CLASSES, "SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND "MANAGED GRAZING SYSTEMS FOR DAIRY CATTLE," BOTH OF WHICH ARE REQUIRED FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP AND ARE OFFERED DURING FALL SEMESTER. FARMER-STAKEHOLDER SYMPOSIUMTHE DGA GRAZING SUMMIT IS A NATIONAL MANAGED GRAZING DAIRY GATHERING WHERE MENTORS AND PARTNERS COME TOGETHER NOT ONLY TO NETWORK, SOCIALIZE, AND LEARN BUT ALSO TO GAIN PERSPECTIVE ON NATIONAL LABOR TRENDS, MARKETS, AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR MANAGED GRAZING DAIRY FARMS.