Dairy farms are America's staple; they provide the perfect backdrop for hard work and encompass numerous aspects in our daily lives. These farms provide the dairy-based foods on our table. But like any industry, if you work in the dairy market, you need to be well informed right from the beginning.

With technology advancing as quickly as it does and with the government amending rules to better protect consumers, dairy farmers need to be well informed about these changes. Consider the following when investigating dairy farms education and training resources:

1. Educate yourself on the best ways to operate a successful dairy farm operation.

2. Obtain a college degree based on dairy farming.

3. Seek out dairy farm information from organizations and associations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Inform yourself on the ins and outs of dairy farm operations

If you're just getting started in the dairy industry, then you might have numerous questions. Or maybe you just need to brush up on some basic operating ideas. Whatever the reason, you should check out some of the best modern dairy farm sites to become better informed.

I recommend: Check out Dairy Farming Today, which can answer any questions you may have about being a dairy farmer. Look to Best Food Nation, which can provide a list of facts, figures and information about what it takes to run a successful dairy farm.

Secure a college degree that can help with establishing milk farms

Colleges and universities can offer real-life experiences for those wanting to own and operate modern dairy farms. In addition to actually obtaining the degree, students can gain vast information about dairy farms through internships or on-site training.

I recommend: The Ohio State University offers several dairy science degrees, one of which focuses on dairy cattle production and management. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, you can attend one of the most comprehensive dairy science graduate programs in the country. Students can strive to obtain a master's or a doctorate degree in dairy science at the university.

Learn about dairy farm operations by attending dairy-based conferences

By attending the industry's top conferences, you can meet with dairy farm leaders to network and keep up-to-date on any current trends. This is an ideal way to stay in the loop with those in your field; staying in touch with people you may meet at these conferences can pay dividends even after the conference has ended.

I recommend: The National Milk Producers Federation holds the National Dairy Leaders Conference for those in the dairy industry. At the conference, dairy farmers and marketers have a chance to converse and share tips on what it takes to be successful in the milking market. The Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference is a three-day event featuring activities, speakers and discussions about modern dairy farming.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have a difficult time leaving your residence or farm to seek further dairy farm education, then use the Internet to your advantage. Many colleges and universities offer online classes to spruce up your knowledge; associations may even post their newsletters online.

Dairy farms are an increasingly profitable venture as the population of people who need dairy products continues to grow. Dairy farms are not only about cows, but also about processing milk and selling it to turn into dairy products like cheese, ice cream, butter and yogurt.

Dairy farming is hard work. Not only do you have to care for the cows, but you have to milk them and then properly store the milk. Luckily, in modern dairy farming, equipment helps you do a great deal of the difficult work. If you’re looking to learn more about dairy farming, here is what you should consider first:

1. Obtain basic information about modern dairy farming practices.

2. Find the right equipment to help you remain efficient and effective.

3. Sell your products to the right market.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the basics about dairy farms

If you want to own a modern dairy farm, you have to learn about farming. You need to learn how to care for the cows, how to milk them and how to get the milk where you need it to go.

I recommend: Take a virtual tour of a modern dairy farm at Dairy Farming Today. You can also go the CIAS (Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems) website for some basic information about owning and running a dairy farm.

Learn about the necessary dairy farm operations and equipment

Equipment for modern dairy farms ranges from cooling systems for the milk, storage systems of the milk, supplies and equipment to help you care for the cows and equipment for milking the cows.

I recommend: Go to Paul Mueller Company for an extensive list of milk coolers, processing systems and refrigeration products. You can also go to BouMatic for other dairy products, including cow traffic systems, milking systems, cooling systems and even ways for you to improve hygiene.

Sell the milk from your milk farms

Once you have your equipment and your dairy farm up and running, you need to sell the milk. Market it out to businesses that will turn the milk into cheese, yogurt and ice cream.

I recommend: The US Dairy Export Council has more information about exporting milk worldwide and getting into the hands of the people who will use it. You can also go to the National Milk Producers Federation for a Dairy Market Report. They have market reports than run from 2006 to current. If you’re looking for manufactures of dairy products, go to the Dairy Farmers of America.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While modern dairy farming is a profitable business, it takes a great deal of work from you to run a successful dairy farm.

Getting started in the dairy farms profession can appear daunting; after all, there are animals to take care of, and the goal is ultimately to make money from the livestock. You need to know the lingo about dairy milking machines, how best to provide for the herd of cattle and how to properly store the milk in compliance with codes and regulations. When you're starting in a career on a dairy farm, it's best to arm yourself with the latest terms.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Feed

Whether you're dealing with cows or horses, chickens or pigs, all livestock eat feed. This is a mixture of processed grains, mainly comprised of corn, and green foliage, such as alfalfa, that you plan to feed your dairy cattle. If you plan to mix up your own feed on site, it's best to invest in a feed grain elevator where you can store bulk quantities.

I recommend: Learn more about feed and grain elevators through Cyberspace Farm.

Bulk tank

This refrigerated tank holds the milk once it leaves the cow. When the milk trucks come to collect the milk and bring it to a processing plant, the truck connects a hose from the tank to the truck, draining all contents.

I recommend: Research bulk tanks further by learning about temperature requirements at Dairy Farming Today.

Pipeline milking system

You need to know the type of milking system to use when starting a dairy farm. The most common is the pipeline milking system, which suctions the milk off the cow's teats into a pipeline that connects to the bulk tank. All the milk from the cows is sent here; there is no distinguishing one cow's milk from another's. The bucket milking system can allow this, as the milk from one cow is kept in a separate, portable container.

I recommend: Check out more information on the types of milk machines and systems at Parts Dept.

National Dairy Herd Information Association

The National Dairy Herd Information Association helps dairy farmers with increasing their profit and their herd's production. By becoming a member of the DHIA, you have immediate assistance with record keeping for milk production. A subsidiary of the DHIA is the Dairy Herd Information Registry, which makes the records acceptable for specific breed organizations.

I recommend: Learn more about the requirements for the National Dairy Herd Information Association straight from the source.

Dairy cattle breeds

With so many different types of dairy cattle to choose from, you might feel overwhelmed when starting your career. Let the Web sites' background information on each breed help you decide what suits your needs. Some of the more popular dairy cattle breeds include Holstein, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Guernsey.

I recommend: Visit Oklahoma State University and its site about North American dairy breeds for more information.

Parlor

The parlor is the site where the dairy cattle are milked. With numerous types available, you should do plenty of research to determine which can work best with your herd and your barn. Some of the choices to sort through are herringbone, flat barn, walk-through, swing, parallel and rotary.

I recommend: The United States Environmental Protection Agency offers a thorough explanation of the different types of parlors listed above.