National Dairy FARM Program: 2014 Year in Review
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The U.S. dairy farming community is committed to ensuring the well-being of the animals in our care. The National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management™ (FARM Program) provides consistency and uniformity to best practices in on-farm animal care and quality assurance through a nation-wide, verifiable program. Third-Party Verification of the program’s content and execution helps ensure its validity and integrity to our customers and consumers. In 2014, FARM Program participation expanded with additional enrollment of cooperatives, proprietary processors and individual producers, which proactively demonstrates the dairy industry’s continued commitment to providing high-level care to dairy animals. Participation increased to more than 75 percent of the U.S. milk supply. The strength, scope and science-basis of the animal care program has been critical to help shape international initiatives on animal welfare. The broadly-accepted animal care program for the U.S. dairy industry has enabled the U.S. government and dairy industry representatives to provide consistent, constructive feedback during the public comment process to both the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) and the International
Standards Organization (ISO), which have been working to develop international standards on animal welfare. Through NMPF representation, the FARM Program participates in the standards-setting process to represent the best interests of the U.S. dairy industry. The program is also utilized in animal welfare discussions at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Dairy Federation (IDF).
FARM Program Showcases U.S. Dairy Practices Globally
Guide to Good Animal Welfare in Dairy Production
Gateway to Farm Animal Welfare OIE Animal Welfare and Dairy Production Systems
ISO Technical Standard on Animal Welfare