By Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship
Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) is a 2-year employment and training program that prepares individuals for careers in dairy farming.The first registered Apprenticeship for farming in the nation, DGA is 4,000-hour program that combines 3,700 hours of full time on-farm employment and mentorship under an experienced Mentor Dairy Grazier with 300 hours of related instruction, including custom courses delivered through its online school, Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC). Entrants start as Apprentices, graduate as Journey Dairy Graziers, and may go on to become Mentor Dairy Graziers themselves. By linking established and aspiring dairy farmers to provide a guided pathway for the transfer of managed grazing skills and knowledge, the program aims to bring the social, economic, and environmental benefits of this regenerative practice to rural communities. Initiated in Wisconsin, DGA was registered as a National Apprenticeship directly with the U.S. Department of Labor in 2015 and now has more than 200 approved Mentor farms in 15 states. DGA and MGIC were established and developed with the support from USDA-NIFA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
Website |
https://www.dga-national.org/ |
Contact |
Jessica Matthews info@dga-national.org (484) 904-9540 |
Wisconsin