Completed Project Report


Developing Dairy Producer Peer Groups in Kansas

  • Award Amount: $43,976
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2010 Value Added Enterprises/Farm Diversification Grants
  • Project Director:
  • Email: kcd@ksu.edu
  • Organization: Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics

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Project Overview

This project initiated and developed small producer peer groups among dairy operations in three regions of Kansas. Coordinated by faculty in the Agricultural Economics and Animal Science and Industry Departments at Kansas State University, these producer peer groups helped participants work together to develop strategies to reduce financial, production and human risk through benchmarking and comparative analysis, and provide education in marketing, feed inventory, employee management, and herd management techniques such as vaccination protocols. In addition, these groups provided the opportunity for participants to learn together from observing other operations in different regions.

Information on production, marketing, cost, and management variables for each group was compiled quarterly by K-State and made available to group members at the quarterly meetings, with time for discussion. In addition, educational sessions took place at each meeting, with topics determined by producers. These sessions involved outside educators from the industry, as well as K-State faculty. One outside workshop on hoof care was also conducted at the K-State campus, with producers from these groups participating.

Number of Participants: 32

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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