FAQs

A large variety of training and development methods can be registered with Dairy Pro. Everything from open farm meetings and conferences to seminars and workshops can be recorded on an individual member or farm business profile. Even on-farm or bespoke events such as veterinary or consultancy advisory sessions and e-learning can be accredited and logged within the scheme. This is because all learning opportunities grow the abilities of the individual and the capabilities of the business.

To make it easy to maintain a balanced approach to learning, Dairy Pro has identified eight ‘Pillars of Learning’ that represent the spectrum of skills needed to operate in today’s dairy farming industry. Dairy Pro indicates which of these pillars any learning opportunity logged on its database will cover:

• Livestock Production Systems
• Health and Welfare
• Business Management
• Environment
• Legislation
• Grassland Management
• Personal Development

Bespoke events put forward for accreditation will also be allocated one or more learning pillars to help the individual or farm business member keep track of skills gaps.

These can be found in the Events Calendar on the Dairy Pro website.

Whether you join as an individual or part of a business there are a number of overarching benefits.

Being a Dairy Pro member:

• Provides a formal record of training that is often already being undertaken
• Proves competence and expertise within your business
• Matches training opportunities to needs
• Demonstrates professional competence within your business to banks, assurance schemes, customers or landlords
• Meets Red Tractor recommendations

Membership categories and fees are as follows:

Individual
Full Member Dairy farmer or person employed directly within the dairy industry: £20 + vat/annum
Associate Dairy industry third party workers ie distributor/trade, advisors, consultants and other interested parties: £20 + vat/annum
Student Member A student of agriculture or related land-based subject: free membership for the duration of their studies

Business
Single Business Membership Provides an amalgamated view of all partner or employee activity into one online profile and does not require individual membership: £40 + vat/annum
Linked Business Membership Works by linking two or more individual Dairy Pro members to a business profile: £20 + vat per member/annum, or free if they are already members and just need to be linked to a common business.

The Dairy Pro app, which can be downloaded from the Dairy Pro website, makes training and recording easy. From it, you can access all your membership details and online training profile at any time, view upcoming events and register at events at the click of a button. Full instructions of how to download the app to your smart phone can be found on the website.

Other options are to access the calendar or events online at the website, sign registration forms at events and let us deal with the paperwork, or use the ‘Submit new points’ button on the website to let us know about any other training you have done which isn’t on the website. We will take the strain by recording it and adding it to your record. Easy.

Dairy Pro has a full auditing system in place including attendance records and geo-location via the Dairy Pro app. These, between them, ensure only those who were at an event are recognised.

To simplify recording, each member is provided with a membership card and key fob for easy registration at events.

No, not unless this normally happens as part of a particular event. All events attended are visible via the online profiles, which can then be downloaded, printed and/or emailed for use with third parties.

To ensure members are continually extending themselves and benefitting from training opportunities, Dairy Pro suggests members should aim to collect 20 points per annum (Jan – Dec). In recognition of this the Dairy Pro Endorsed status will be awarded to members who achieve 20 points or more per annum. As a farmer or manager, having ‘Dairy Pro Endorsed’ status shows your stakeholders – such as your banks, assurance scheme, customers or landlord – that you are committed to learning and professionalism within your business.