Completed Project Report


Developing Sharemilking Arrangements and Educational Tools to Grow Grass Based Dairies

  • Award Amount: $46,000
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2008 Human Resource Risk Grants
  • Project Director: Joe Horner
  • Email: hornerj@missouri.edu
  • Organization: University of Missouri Extension

Extension RME Regional Centers
Extension Risk Management Education Region Map

Project Overview

A new dairy production system is rapidly emerging in Missouri using large-scale intensive-rotational-grazing and minimal grain usage. Since 2004, more than $75 million of capital has poured into these new dairy startups pioneered by New Zealand dairy investors partnered with locals. This system is profitable and environmentally sustainable. Further growth and diffusion of this model is hampered by a shortage of skilled grazing dairy managers in the U.S. One method used extensively in New Zealand to overcome this human resource barrier is the concept of sharemilking as the first stage of a dairyman’s career path. Careful alignment of interests via sharemilking contracts provides a means to overcome barriers to entry for younger and minority dairymen while overcoming management shortages for existing dairies. This proposal seeks to fund workshops and the development of a sharemilker’s web-based resource featuring sample sharemilking contracts, decision tools, educational resources and case studies.

Number of Participants: 3861

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

DESCRIBE ANY UNEXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT:

HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE PROJECT IF YOU WERE TO DO IT AGAIN?

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR YOUR PARTICIPANTS?

INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES