Many voices are clamoring for change in how food is produced. The dairy community is striving to control its own destiny and address ongoing needs through the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation competitive grant program. PDPF funds educational programs and initiatives that develop its people and maintain public trust in production practices such as animal care, environmental stewardship and food safety.

The following programs will receive funding:

• Wisconsin Center for Agriculture and Environmental Resources aims to help farmers better understand the goals and objectives of regional watershed programs. This program provides education and training about how agriculture impacts water quality so farmers can begin to document the adoption of practices that protect and enhance water quality. WiCAER serves as a bridge between farmers and the public to improve the understanding of what agriculture is doing to protect water quality.

• Altoona-Blair County Agricultural Career Day 2018 will expose 1,400 seventh-grade students to various agricultural careers and industries at Kulp Family Dairy in Martinsburg, Pa. New this year, a video will help to establish a dialogue between teachers and students as they prepare to attend the ag career day on the farm. The video will provide career information to a wider audience and educational information about farming in general.

• Peninsula Pride Farms Inc. is working with agencies and industry to reduce nutrient, sediment and pathogen loss to ground- and surface water in southern Door and Kewaunee counties in Wisconsin. The initiative works with farmers to implement conservation practices that are protective of ground- and surface water. Peninsula Pride Farms will continue to develop and expand information and education programs for farmers and their communities.

• Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance is a farmer-led nonprofit organization committed to faithful and sustainable stewardship of the natural resources in Lafayette County, Wis. The grant will help LASA continue its aggressive but critical campaign toward progressive agriculture practices that are protective of water quality. LASA will use field days, annual meetings and organization meetings to increase the knowledge base of its members. In so doing, members will grow professionally and be positioned to continue their farming legacy. 

• The North Carolina Association for Dairy Stabilization and Growth will present an on-farm dairy processing symposium. In response to increased inquiries from producers regarding on-farm processing, the symposium will feature a producer-processor speaker panel and an expert panel with a focus on farm processing. Facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience among processors and producers is the first step in determining the resources and tools needed throughout the Southeast.

The PDPF awards dollars to qualified educational programs. Programs benefit the dairy community and help build a professional, proactive and prepared dairy industry. The next granting period is ongoing, with grant applications due June 1. Organizations may apply for grants of up to $5,000. For more information, visit dairyfoundation.org.

Source: PDPF