By Blake Jackson
A series of three free, hands-on workshops will take place this April on dairy farms across Pennsylvania, offering practical training for dairy producers and their teams.
The events are being organized by the Center for Dairy Excellence in collaboration with the PA Beef Council, the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP), and Penn State Extension.
Designed to strengthen on-farm skills, the workshops will also help participants meet training requirements in four key areas of the National FARM program.
Each session will be hosted directly on working dairy farms, giving attendees the opportunity to learn through real-world demonstrations and interactive activities.
Both English- and Spanish-speaking participants are encouraged to attend, and lunch will be provided at each location.
“We have close to 100 dairy producers planning to join us for this workshop series. We’re looking forward to being back on the farm for hands-on training opportunities and live demos in areas like animal handling, dystocia management and more,” said Valerie Mason-Faith, Risk Education Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “We hope you can join us at a location near you this April.”
The workshops are scheduled for April 9 at Breezy Farms in Centre County, April 21 at Mercer-Vu Farms in Franklin County, and April 28 at Pennwood Farms in Somerset County.
Training sessions will cover essential topics including managing cull, down, and transition cows, as well as proper animal handling techniques to improve cattle movement and reduce bruising.
Participants will also gain insights into calving practices, including identifying when intervention is necessary during difficult births. In addition, farm safety will be emphasized, with guided walk-throughs to help identify and address potential hazards.
Dairy producers and employees interested in attending can register by calling 717-346-0849 or visiting the Center for Dairy Excellence website. Attendees are asked to include the names of all participants from their operation when registering.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-artistgndphotography
Categories: Pennsylvania, Education, Livestock, Dairy Cattle