Professional development register Dairy Pro has reached a ground-breaking agreement with the UK’s largest dairy company, farmer-owned cooperative Arla, in which Arla UK farmer members engaged in its Sustainable Dairy Farming Growing Together programme will be able to register all their development activity through the Dairy Pro scheme.
Arla’s sustainable dairy farming programme involves a series of on-farm practical workshops which explore key issues affecting dairy farming, including feeding, breeding and managing the future health of the herd. Each workshop is independently assessed and Dairy Pro points will be awarded to farmers attending the workshops, providing them with the opportunity to build an official training record.
Vicky Porteus, Arla’s senior manager for quality assurance and sustainability, says: “Partnering with Dairy Pro is a logical progression to give formal recognition to the training and development delivered, and convey the professional standards of our members to customers and consumers.
“In the past Arla farmers have been involved in various workshops and events. Making this part of a formal strategy means farmers gain the recognition they deserve for participating in the programme.”
Helen Brookes from Dairy Pro says: “We are very pleased to have Arla farmers as our first corporate members. It shows recognition for the advantages of the scheme, adds critical mass that will benefit all members, and gives a clear signal of support to all those already involved in the Dairy Pro initiative.
“It also shows that the dairy industry is catching up fast with other sectors. There has always been great expertise within the dairy sector, but Dairy Pro is now plugging skills gaps and showing the outside world just how serious we are about doing an excellent job for our consumers and wider society.”
John Allen from Kite Consulting, which is working with Arla to deliver the programme , says: “The workshops will be looking at sustainably increasing milk solids production, improving feed efficiency, gaining from genetics, and reducing antibiotic use.
“The programme is very practical, with each workshop focusing on a specific subject. Capturing farmer involvement in this activity and keeping a track of progress is critical. That’s why working with Dairy Pro is so important.”
