By Jamie Martin
The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program has released its updated Environmental Stewardship (ES) Version 3 Prep Guide.
This resource is designed to help dairy farmers and evaluators get ready for the upcoming on-farm evaluations.
The Prep Guide provides detailed information on data collection, evaluation tips, and program expectations under Version 3. It is aimed at helping users better understand the new platform’s structure and features.
FARM recommends all producers and evaluators use this guide during preparation. The new version reflects updated sustainability goals and supports the industry’s efforts to improve environmental outcomes on dairy farms.
Training for Version 3 is underway. One such session, held on May 28, focused on advanced manure management. This optional training covered how manure practices can impact environmental performance scores in Version 3.
Each advanced session is optional, but designed for evaluators who want to better understand how input data shapes environmental results. Evaluators also learn to run scenarios that allow producers to explore ways to improve sustainability.
These tools aim to promote continuous improvement, helping farmers reduce environmental impacts while maintaining productivity.
“The optional advanced manure-module training session held May 28 provided an in-depth overview of how manure management can influence ES Version 3 results.”
For more information, producers and evaluators are encouraged to download the Prep Guide and register for future training sessions through the FARM Program website.
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Categories: National