27 July 2012

2 minute read

Europe

The scheme has been devised and implemented by an industry steering group and is funded by DairyCo and Residual Milk Marketing Board funds. The aim is to recognise the broad range of skills that dairy farmers and farm staff have and continue to develop on a daily basis.

“We want Dairy Pro to be a recognised mark for professionalism in dairy farming,” says group chairman David Cotton. “As dairy farmers we are constantly working to improve our farms, develop skills within our workforce and keep up-to-date with the latest developments in technology and business management. Dairy Pro gives us a simple way to record those efforts by providing a register for farmers and staff who participate so that they have a tangible way of recognising that work.”

Dairy Pro has been deliberately developed to recognise all the different areas that farmers operate in and to accommodate the wide variety of skills that they have.

“It’s an inclusive scheme,” says David, “it doesn’t matter what size of farm you have, or what type of system, as long as you are continuing to develop your skills, you can register your training, build your points tally and work to become part of a professional network of dairy farmers.”

Dairy farmer Tom Rawson is the Dairy Pro industry group vice chairman. He says the scheme will be extremely useful for a number of reasons. “As a dairy farmer and an employer I’m constantly making an effort to keep up with the latest developments in dairying and I need to know that staff and prospective employees are doing the same. Dairy Pro will provide a credible platform for all of us to demonstrate and recognise that commitment to continuous development.”

To join the scheme simply register at http://www.dairypro.co.uk/ or visit stand BM231 at Livestock 2012; then look out for the Dairy Pro logo on stands and at demonstrations around the event where you can start to pick up points.

TheCattleSite News Desk