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DMI offers Conservation Navigator tool

The dairy checkoff has an online tool to help producers learn from each other about conservation practices.

Jacqi Coleman says Dairy Management Inc, dairy’s checkoff program, launched Dairy Conservation Navigator in November of 2024. “This is an online platform that’s meant to simplify sustainability and conservation topics for our dairy farmers and those dairy farm advisors.”

Board member and Glenwood, Minnesota dairy farmer Suzanne Vold tells Brownfield dairy farms are generational businesses that are in it for the very long haul, but there are many programs and projects that require capital investments that are outside of the farmer’s comfort zone. “There’s also things that are available for cost sharing, for grants to help us with the cost of those things, but often, wse don’t have the time to do the research and to do all of the legwork on our own. Dairy Conservation Navigator gives farmers that first step up.”

Coleman says the platform features unbiased science-based information including video clips from farmers who have implemented many conservation practices. “Our hope is that agronomists, herd nutritionists, veterinarians, conservation professionals all have access to this information. They might be familiar with these practices on other types of farms and need to know how they apply to dairy farms, or might be looking to understand what some of these new practices are all about.”

DMI’s free Conservation Navigator tool can be found online at dairyconservation.org. 

AUDIO: Jacqi Coleman and Suzanne Vold discuss DMI’s Dairy Conservation Navigator with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.