A program for dairy producers and advisors in the Northeast.
From January 2024 to January 2025, the USDA Northeast Climate Hub, in collaboration with Cornell University, ran a cohort-based learning and training opportunity for dairy producers and technical service providers in Vermont, New York, and Maine interested in climate change adaptation and mitigation.
This program was for dairy producers who are thinking about climate change, interested in learning about climate impacts, and motivated to pursue climate adaptation and/or mitigation within their operation. This program was also for service providers who work with dairy farmers and are interested in strengthening their abilities to provide climate-focused support.
Program Goals
Provide geographically specific climate change information relevant to vegetable and small fruit production
Empower dairy farmers and agricultural advisors to become climate leaders in their communities through peer-to-peer learning
Create opportunities for farmers to create farm-specific climate adaptation and mitigation plans with support
Strengthen agricultural advisor knowledge and abilities in climate adaptation and mitigation planning
Support development of outreach and education products that reach farmers and agricultural advisors beyond the program
What did Fellows in this program do?
Worked in farmer/service provider pairs throughout fellowship
Received climate change training and resources from subject matter experts
Learned how to create a farm-specific climate adaptation and mitigation plan and created a plan for each farmer Fellows’ farm
Built a community of other dairy producers and advisors who are concerned about and ready to address climate change through field walks, peer-to-peer network meetings, or talks relevant to specific subject matter requests
Gained experience and confidence talking about climate change
The Dairy Program Team
