National Dairy FARM Program

FARM Program Opens Comment Period for Version 2028

The National Dairy FARM Program today began its open comment period for both the Animal Care and Workforce Development programs’ proposed Version 2028 updates to compile and incorporate farmer and industry feedback.

“Farmer involvement is critical to ensuring program standards are practical and achievable,” said James “Cricket” Jacquier, an Agri-Mark member-farmer and chairman of the FARM Animal Care Task Force. “Farmers who participate in the open comment period can provide feedback on practices and protocols that help promote U.S. dairy industry efforts in demonstrating our commitment to high-quality dairy products.”

All dairy industry stakeholders are invited to provide comments, feedback and concerns related to the proposed revisions by Oct. 2.

View the proposed standard updates and complete the survey: https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8BN3fBE9nJyOpcG

FARM Program Publishes 2026 Drug Residue Prevention Manual

The National Dairy FARM Program today released its 2026-2027 Milk & Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Reference Manual, equipping farmers with an educational tool that promotes best management practices for responsible and judicious use of antimicrobials in dairy cattle.

The updated manual has timely information about the FDA’s conditionally approved and emergency use authorizations of drugs to combat New World screwworm.

The Milk & Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual and the associated pocket guide are sponsored by Zoetis. Their sponsorship supports the development of on-farm resource development for U.S. dairy farmers.

To learn more, visit: https://nationaldairyfarm.com/dairy-farm-standards/antibiotic-stewardship/

FARM Program Kicks off Annual Excellence Awards

The National Dairy FARM Program is accepting nominations for its annual FARM Excellence Awards, recognizing U.S. dairy industry achievements in adopting and improving on-farm practices.

Awards are divided into four categories: Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, Workforce Development and FARM Evaluator of the Year.

“The FARM Program relies on farmers and FARM evaluators to advance the Program’s mission of continuous improvement” said NMPF’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Meggan Hain. “These awards honor participants who embody FARM Program values through their commitment to excellence.”

Visit https://nationaldairyfarm.com/excellence-awards/ to learn more.

Register Now: Understanding FARM Program Data Privacy

As digital tools play a growing role on dairy farms, keeping your farm’s information secure is increasingly important. Join the National Dairy FARM Program for a webinar focused on data privacy. This session will focus on how data is collected, stored and protected within the FARM Program.

Registration is required. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0Jl9kt-zRx6epPq6rW5MYQ #/registration

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Environmental Stewardship Program today released revisions to its Version 3 evaluation tool, integrating the latest scientific updates from the Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) model that powers FARM ES Version 3.

“FARM Environmental Stewardship continues to adapt as science and technology advance within the dairy sector,” said Nicole Ayache, National Milk Producers Federation’s chief sustainability officer. “By integrating the latest model into the evaluation tool, farmers can better understand how practices affect their footprint and identify stewardship opportunities that align with business goals.”

Learn more here: https://nationaldairyfarm.com/news_post/farm-environmental-stewardship-integrates-newly-updated-rufas-model/

Find FARM at the Dairy Sustainability Alliance Spring meeting this week!

Join us for, “Building Trust Across the Dairy Value Chain” starting at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday, April 29. Hear perspectives from across the dairy value chain on how FARM delivers value beyond compliance by supporting continuous improvement, market access, managing reputational risk and strengthening trust in U.S. dairy.

This , read how Arizona dairy farmer Robert Van Hofwegen and his sons are taking farming to the next level, promoting sustainable, cost-efficient farming in a place where it’s necessary.

Paloma Dairy in Gila Bend, AZ, is a family-owned and operated United Dairymen of Arizona member-farm producing high-quality milk since its founding in 2006. It’s managed by Robert Sr. and his four sons: Allan, Robert Jr., Arie and Kyle.

The farm participates in the FARM Environmental Stewardship program area to measure and monitor its data. “I think if farmers would do that more, they can start to see things that they could do differently as far as management,” said Allan Van Hofwegen. “That’s probably what I see as the real benefit of FARM ES.”

Check out National Milk Producers Federation latest Farmer Focus to learn more: https://www.nmpf.org/focus/paloma-dairy

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