In managed grazing systems, cows are rotated through paddocks of high-quality grasses and legumes, allowing for periods of rest and growth.
A recent USDA 2501 grant is supporting Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA), which has provided more than 750,000 hours of on-farm training and related coursework in managed grazing dairy production to hundreds of aspiring dairy farmers nationwide. Initially established in 2010 as a state-level apprenticeship in Wisconsin, DGA became an independent nonprofit organization in 2013 and registered its training program as a National Apprenticeship with the U.S. Department of Labor in 2015. Today DGA has more than 200 authorized training farms in 16 states.
With 2501 support, DGA is making their apprenticeships accessible to Spanish speakers. The 2501 Program provides training, outreach and technical assistance to underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers, and foresters to help them own and operate successful farms, ranches, and forest lands.
DGA collaborates with grazing dairy farms, universities, community organizations, and stakeholders to offer high-quality training in managed-grazing dairy. This innovative apprenticeship aims to boost farm profitability, provide valuable resources to producers, and convene stakeholders to strengthen and expand the sector.
Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC) is an online school created by DGA, established with support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program . MGIC offers customized, practical, and engaging online education to boost the skills of new and beginning farmers and equip them to plan, start, and run operational farms.
Jessica Duran, MGIC director, emphasized the importance of making MGIC more accessible for apprentices. “We thought it was a good opportunity to translate our curriculum into Spanish, so Spanish-speaking individuals can benefit, gain more knowledge, and grow into management position within the farm,” she said.
The 2501 grant has enabled DGA to translate standard operating procedures, provide bilingual instruction, and have translators at events to assist Spanish-speaking farmers in training their employees faster. “One of the wonderful things about grant funding across the board is that it allows us to take chances we might not take otherwise,” said DGA Grant Manager Sarah Ficken.
DGA also benefitted from other USDA programs to assist their organization’s growth. “We currently have funding support from USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities , which is focused on getting PaddockTrac precision technology on to farms to measure forages and document the climate benefit of managed grazing,” Ficken said.
