Professional Dairy Managers Of Pennsylvania Inc

For the past 20 years, the professional dairy managers of pennsylvania (pdmp) has partnered with penn state university in a corn silage hybrid testing and research program. Pdmp member farms in different regions of the state volunteer a plot of land on which a variety of seeds are planted and from which crops are analyzed. In recent years, results around ndf and starch digestibility yielded much needed discussion about the impact of corn silage in rations for dairy cattle. In 2024, a total of 95 entries from 11 different seed companies were entered into the program and the results were published and made available online for all dairy farms and their nutritionists. In 2024, pdmp recruited 65 dairy farms to participate in the usda climate smart commodities grant program in which pdmp partnered with penn state university to reimburse dairy farms for costs to implement practices to reduce their ghgs, scientifically measure the reductions when possible and test the voluntary carbon market for pa's smaller sized dairies. In 2024 pdmp financed a milk supply study of pennsylvania's milkshed to help the industry and commonwealth determine what, if anything makes the state attractive to investment in dairy processing. The analysis was completed and released in 2024 and pdmp held meetings throughout the year to review the results with our progressive dairy farm members and industry leaders, leadership in the pa general assembly, the pa department of agriculture, and the pa department of community and economic development.

Pdmp's goal with the on-farm internships is to develop the next generation of top dairy producers by making hands-on, practical learning experience on working dairy farms as competitive as pharma and other industry programs for students. With the intent that more young people will be prepared and committed to entering the production side of dairy upon their graduation, pdmp offers additional financial support, matched by both the pa center for dairy excellence and the pa dairymen's association, to augment what dairy farmers are able to pay for summer interns, to dairy students enrolled in higher education. The 20+ year internship program places students on dairies for a summer and in 2024 supported nine college students, interested in pursuing a dairy related career, on exceptionally well- managed farms throughout the state to better prepare them for a career in production agriculture.

Professional dairy managers of pennsylvania contributed funding and connected volunteer farmers to the calving corner project, which is led by the pennsylvania dairymen's association and the center for dairy excellence foundation of pennsylvania. The calving corner project provides a unique platform for pennsylvania's dairy farmers and industry representatives to interact directly with families visiting the pennsylvania farm show. The pa farm show attracts approximately 500,000 visitors each year and the calving corner provides a unique opportunity for them to witness the birthing experience in a dairy barn live and in-person. Our farmers answer their questions and engage in conversation with visiting non-farm people of all ages and backgrounds to build and strengthen relationships between consumers and the people who produce their food.