A team based approach: Development of a comprehensive program for identification of bottlenecks to profitability on dairy farms.

Field-based and campus-based dairy extension educators collaborated to develop a program to identify bottlenecks to profitability on Pennsylvania dairies. Self-selected teams worked on key areas like udder health and milk quality, reproduction, and replacement management and milk production, while a larger team developed a comprehensive tool to identify bottlenecks. Working through both face to face and electronic communication, the team created the "Profitability Assessment for Dairy" (PADairy). The PADairy tool was developed to use a consistent method of whole farm evaluation and remove bias associated with individual areas of expertise. Each area in the tool is linked to an economic outcome so that bottlenecks and the associated loss in profitability are identified. Training for using PADairy included an on-farm evaluation with multi-disciplinary teams of extension educators. The training model allowed for experimentation with "old methods" of evaluation compared to the more team-based and comprehensive use of PADairy. Evaluations indicated that nearly 80% of the participants were likely to use the tool in the next year and nearly 75% would use the tool with a team of educators. Seventyfive percent of the participants found the team based and on-farm components to training "very effective" while the remaining 25% found the training methods "moderately effective." Following internal training and on-farm testing, PADairy was presented in educational workshops for both agribusiness consultants and dairy producers. The PADairy project provided a more coordinated and effective method for both educational program development and educator training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]