Key Components to New Animal Well-Being Program Now Online

National Dairy FARM Program Introduced to Dairy Industry at Annual Conference  

(GRAPEVINE, Texas) – Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 – Dairy producers now have online access to key components of the new National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management. That announcement was made today during the annual meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and dairy checkoff groups in Grapevine, Texas, where producers and industry leaders from across the country were introduced to the on-farm animal well-being program.  

Created by NMPF, with support from Dairy Management Inc., the National Dairy FARM Program is a voluntary, nationwide program designed to bring consistency and uniformity to animal care through education, on-farm evaluations and objective third-party verification.  

“The National Dairy FARM Program was developed by producers, veterinarians, and animal care experts with the goal of a comprehensive and verifiable dairy animal care program,” said Betsy Flores, NMPF director of regulatory affairs.  

The program was formally launched Oct. 1 during a news conference at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. The session at NMPF’s annual meeting allowed dairy industry leaders to learn more about the program, and about the Animal Care Manual and Animal Care Quick Reference User Guide