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(DD) PEP Up Your Farm!New matching fund helps
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VERN ORASKOVICH |
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Hmmm . . . DDPEP. Isn't that the new, caffeine-crammed soft drink that comes in a bright red can? Well, no. But it might bear some similarities. It's bright. And it -- as Garrison Keillor would say -- gives a person "the strength to get up and do what needs to be done." DDPEP is the Dairy Development and Profitability Enhancement Program. Established by the 2001 Minnesota Legislature, the program offers Minnesota farm families a valuable tool for giving their operations the "get up and go" needed to compete in today's environment. The centerpiece of the program is something called diagnostics -- a term we hear more in medicine than in farming. It means, basically, finding out what's wrong so you can fix it. Medical diagnostics helps make people healthier. Dairy diagnostics helps make farms healthier -- more productive, more profitable, a better fit with the quality of life you want for your family. When doctors make diagnoses, they may consult other professionals who are specialists in one area or another. You have specialists who can help you too -- your nutritionist, lender, veterinarian, milk plant representative, A.I. representative, Extension educator, farm management representative, and so on. DDPEP will help you bring any or all of these people together into a team that can meet with you regularly to advise you as you work to identify and carry out changes that can help you meet your goals. Dairy diagnostics is not a new concept. It has been helping Minnesota dairy farmers since 1992, when the first diagnostics demonstration farms were identified. It did such a good job of enhancing productivity, profitability, and quality of life that the legislature provided funds to make the program accessible to all Minnesota dairy producers. Getting StartedThe first step is to contact your regional team leader (see box on page 5). The team leader will help you set up your diagnostics team. Program structure varies from region to region. Most have a modest participation fee, typically about $200. Programs vary in intensity. If you want to focus on a single issue (e.g., somatic cell count), your team may include only a few professionals and may meet for only six months. If you'd like more in-depth advice, your team may encompass the entire dairy system (e.g., nutrition, agronomy, reproduction, environment, cow comfort, herd health, milk quality) and meet for one, two, or even three years. Does It Work?Here are a few of many examples of results dairies have achieved with the help of diagnostics teams:
Sign Up Now!DDPEP's goal is to reach at least 750 Minnesota dairy farms and document average increased farm profitability of at least $10,000 per farm over the next two years for a total impact in excess of $7.5 million. You can be part of this picture. Just call your regional team leader today. DDPEP is a collaborative effort of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, University of Minnesota, Minnesota Milk Producers and numerous ag industries throughout Minnesota. |
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