FARM Animal Care Program standards are revised every three years to reflect the most current science and best management practices within the dairy industry. Standards, rationale and accountability measures are reviewed and revised by the FARM Animal Care Task Force and National Milk Producers Federation Animal Health and Well-Being Committee with input from industry stakeholder groups including farmers, animal scientists and veterinarians. The National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors provides final approval on version standards. FARM is currently in the process of facilitating the development of FARM Animal Care Version 5.
Given the impact of Coronavirus, the FARM Program did extend the current version cycle (Version 4) by 18 months. These drafted standards to Version 5 will be in place from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027.
The FARM Animal Care Program helps to demonstrate dairy farmers’ commitment to providing excellent care of their dairy cattle and producing safe, wholesome milk by:
The National Dairy FARM Program Animal Care Program invited all dairy industry stakeholders to provide comments, feedback and concerns related to the drafted Animal Care Version 5 standard revisions during the open comment period from Sept. 16 – Oct. 28.
FARM held an Industry Town Hall webinar December 1 to discuss themes from the open comment period feedback.
A written summary of submitted responses will be available January 2023.
July 2021-December 2021
Kick Off Survey
September-December 2021
Industry Town Hall Meeting
December 2021
View Recording
January 2022-June 2022
NMPF Board of Director Meeting
March 2022
Industry Town Hall Meeting
March 31, 2022
View Recording
Animal Health & Well-Being Committee Meeting
Quarter 2
Animal Health & Well-Being Committee Meeting
Quarter 3
NMPF Board of Directors Meeting
June 2022
Industry Town Hall Meeting
June 30, 2022
View Recording
July 2022-December 2022
Industry Town Hall Meetings
September 8, 2022
View Recording
December 1, 2022
View Recording
NMPF Board of Director Meeting
October 2022
Public Commenting Period
September-November 2022
January 2023-December 2023
Targeted AH&WB Approval and NMPF BOD Distribution
January 2023
Targeted NMPF Board of Directors Approval
March 2023
Resource Development
March-December 2023
Industry Town Hall Meeting
January 2024-July 2024
Version 5 Evaluator Trainings
January-June 2024
Version 5 Implementation
July 1, 2024
What is FARM Animal Care?
The FARM Animal Care Program demonstrates that dairy farmers are committed to taking excellent care of their animals and producing safe, wholesome milk by:
Who participates in FARM Animal Care?
98% of the US milk supply participates in the FARM Animal Care program area. Dairy farmers participate in the program through their milk cooperatives, processors, individual farms, and other organizations. When an organization signs a FARM Animal Care participation form, they commit that 100% of their membership will be evaluated against the current animal care version’s standards and is subject to third party verification.
Who sets FARM Animal Care standards and expectations?
The National Dairy FARM Animal Care Program standards are formally revised every three years through a year to year and a half long process. Those involved in the developing and revising standards include:
How long will FARM accepts comments on the draft standards?
FARM will accept comments on the drafted FARM Animal Care Version 5 standards from September 12th – October 28th
What are next steps after the comment period closes?
Once the open comment period is closed, the Animal Care Task Force, Farmer Advisory Council, NMPF Animal Health & Well-being committee and NMPF Board of Directors will review submissions and consider feedback before NMPF Board of Directors approve the final standards.
FARM Animal Care Program standards are formally revised every three years through a year and a half long process. Part of those involved in developing and revising standards include the FARM Animal Care Task Force. The task force is made up of dairy farmers, veterinarians, animal scientists and dairy cooperative and processor staff.
Farmer | Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Northwest Dairy Association
Farmer | Agri-Mark, Inc.
Farmer | Agri-Mark, Inc.
Farmer | Foremost Farms USA
Farmer | California Dairies, Inc.
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Select Milk Producers, Inc.
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Glanbia Foods, Inc.
Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Advaca LLC and Mid-Maryland Dairy Veterinarians
Food Supply Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
Tilamook County Creamery Association
University of California–Davis
University of Minnesota
University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Florida