National Dairy FARM Program Continuing Education
The FARM Animal Care Program helps to demonstrate dairy farmers’ commitment to providing excellent care of their dairy cattle and producing safe, wholesome milk. Supported by Dairy Management, Inc. and managed by the National Milk Producers Federation, FARM details animal care guidelines using the latest research and best management practices. On-farm evaluations conducted by trained evaluators help identify strengths and outline improvements for dairy farms while third party verification ensures integrity of the program.


FARM Animal Care standards outline the need for annual continuing education for family and non-family employees with responsibilities in the following areas:

• Stockmanship/Handling

• Calf Care

• Fitness to Transport

• Non-Ambulatory Animals

• Euthanasia

Express Episode 7: What to know before your calves go
July 17 2025
In this episode, Associate Editor at Hoard's Dairyman, Jessica Miller, reads the FARM-accredited article titled What to know before your calves go
Express Episode 4: Enriching the Lives of Dairy Cattle
July 15 2025
In this episode, Associate Editor at Hoard's Dairyman, Jenna Byrne, reads the FARM-accredited article titled Enriching the Lives of Dairy Cattle
Express Episode 6: Calf care standards continue to climb
July 3 2025
In this episode, Jenna Byrne, an Associate Editor at Hoard's Dairyman, reads the FARM-accredited article titled Calf Care Standards Continue to Climb
Express Episode 5: Make Scour Events a Rare Occurrence
June 19 2025
In this episode, Jenna Byrne, an Associate Editor at Hoard's Dairyman, reads the FARM-accredited article titled Make Scour Events a Rare Occurrence
Engaging positive animal behavior
June 11 2025
On farm tours, watching cows use brushes is something that often catches visitors’ attention and delights them
Transporting calves should be top of mind
June 10 2025
A popular topic of discussion in recent years has been whether to raise calves on the farm or send them off-site into the care of experienced calf rearers
Cleanliness cannot be overstated for calves
June 10 2025
There are many critical factors to raise healthy and well-grown calves., Maggie Gilles, Cleanliness cannot be overstated for calves
Bump colostrum quality with ease
June 10 2025
The fresh cow heads into the parlor to be milked, and fills the bucket, with low to moderate quality colostrum — now what?, Bup colostrum quality with ease, Reagan Bluel
Should I feed waste milk or milk replacer?
June 10 2025
Many dairy farms go back and forth on whether to feed waste milk (WM) or milk replacer (MR) to their calves
Colostrum benefits go beyond one meal
June 10 2025
Newer research and anecdotal evidence shows that the value of colostrum extends past that single meal
Calf health: don’t miss underlying issues
June 10 2025
Keeping calves healthy to create the best replacement possible is always a priority, but with current tight inventories and replacement heifer values continually skyrocketing, the return on investment...
Diagonal lying is the symptom not the culprit
June 10 2025
We know all too well that cows prefer to spend more than half of their day resting in a lying position
Pair calves early to garner benefits
June 10 2025
While pair-housing calves has many benefits, it also brings some disease risks. Researchers suggest pairing early in life to capture all the upsides of pair housing
Express Episode 3: Don’t let the first meal be her last
May 23 2025
In this episode, Managing Editor at Hoard's Dairyman, Kylene Anderson, reads the FARM-accredited article titled Don't Let the First Meal Be Her Last
Express Episode 2: Write Down Your Down Cow Protocols
May 8 2025
In this episode, Managing Editor of Hoard's Dairyman, Kylene Anderson, reads a FARM-Accredited article titled "Write Down Your Down Cow Protocols."
Express Episode 1: It’s time to cull “cull cows” from our vocabulary
April 17 2025
In this Express episode, Managing Editor of Hoard's Dairyman, Kylene Anderson, reads a FARM-Certified article from the magazine called "It's time to cull "cull cows" from our vocabulary"
Enriching the lives of dairy cattle
Jan. 15 2025
The author is an assistant professor and extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Pair or group housing calves is one example of providing enrichment that can boost dairy animals’
Ease the weaning transition
Sept. 25 2024
There are three critical periods for dairy calves. The first is around calving and includes the cow, the environment, and the colostrum feeding and management
Tip the scale of calf health in your favor
Sept. 25 2024
Managing livestock is complex. A dairy farmer is constantly trying to move the seesaw of health and disease in favor of animal health
Make scour events a rare occurrence
Sept. 25 2024
The author is an associate editor for Hoard’s Dairyman. Preventing calf disease like scours starts before calving and becomes more crucial in the first days of life
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