2024 September Board Book

California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP)*

Feed Industry Fellowship with a Focus on Dairy Feeding Systems* RESEARCHER: Dr. Heidi Rossow, UC Davis VMTRC TIMELINE: 2024 OBJECTIVES: 1. Partner graduate-level student interns with feed companies and dairy consultants. 2. Provide real-world research and on-farm technical support experience. 3. Enhance the qualifications of the California dairy and feed industries workforce. BENEFITS: • Fosters development of animal nutrition leaders. • Equips fellows with the ability to identify areas of nutrition and management concern. • Provides future potential nutritionists with scientific knowledge balanced with practical large facility nutrition management experience. • Empowers fellows s to make informed recommendations to enhance dairy industry sustainability. *This project is additionally supported by the feed industry and/or consulting nutritionists.

PROJECT LEADS: Dr. Michael Payne and Dr. Deanne Meyer, UC Davis, and Denise Mullinax, CDQAP/CDRF TIMELINE: 2024 OBJECTIVES: 1. Provide free, universal access to current science based management practices and compliance assistance for California dairy producers. 2. Offer environmental classes and certifications tailored to the specific needs of California’s dairy industry. 3. Create and manage producer-friendly outreach materials and events covering animal care, food safety, farm security, and other relevant topics. 4. Provide environmental evaluation and certification services to interested producers, enabling continued water quality permit fee savings. BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION: • Promotes reduced risk for enforcement actions compared to non-certified facilities. • Provides decreased on-farm regulatory inspection frequency. • Provides lower annual permit fees for environmentally certified facilities. PRODUCER-FRIENDLY OUTREACH: • Provides information on new CDFA policies regarding livestock medications. • Offers guidance on maintaining business continuity during outbreaks of catastrophic animal disease. • Collaborates with law enforcement to raise producer awareness of actions to minimize theft and adverse effects of animal activist actions. • Promotes positive public perception of the dairy industry through outreach efforts. Visit https://cdqap.org to access outreach materials from CDQAP

*CDQAP is an industry-academia-government partnership that serves to support California dairy producers. CDRF funds CDQAP outreach activities.