DATCP: Dairy Goat Workshops For Service Providers Slated For June

Contact: Jeanne Meier 608-224-5121

MADISON – Farm service providers, including agricultural extension agents, veterinarians, technical college instructors and business lenders, are invited to attend a one day workshop to learn about dairy goat production and processing.

“Dairy Goat Initiative: Train the Trainer” workshops will be held June 13 in Menomonie at the Dunn County Extension Office and June 14 in Madison at the Farm Service Agency Office on Excelsior Drive. An additional half-day farm field day will be held on June 15 at Fantome Farm in Ridgeway, a farmstead goat cheese operation. The cost is $30 for the full-day workshops and $20 for the field day.

“Wisconsin has more dairy goat producers than any other state. The demand for dairy goat cheese and other dairy goat products is creating strong interest in the industry, from producers to consumers. We have the opportunity to make this alternative sector a significant component of Wisconsin’s dairy story,” said Rod Nilsestuen, secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Highlights of the workshops include:

*Keynote speaker: Research scientist Steve Hart, PhD, Goat Nutritionist, E. (Kika) de la Garza Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Oklahoma
*Panel discussions with producers of both dairy and meat goats, educators, industry consultants, and cheese makers
*On-farm education in animal husbandry, herd health, business planning, facilities

The workshops are sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, and the Dairy Business Innovation Center. Additional support is provided by the University of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association and the USDA Farm Service Agency.

For more information about the workshops or to register, contact Jeanne Meier at 608-224-5121 or by email at jeanne.meier@datcp.state.wi.us .