The WI Dairy Goat Initiative offers a number of programs to help goat farmers make their operations more successful.  The key to all of these programs is their focus on connecting goat farmers to one another as well as their professional support community.

Upcoming Field Days and Events

Throughout the spring, summer and fall, the WI Dairy Goat Initiative holds a number of on-farm field days around the state.  Though the specific topics of each field day vary, the program usually includes presentations from local veterinarians, nutrition specialists, and others with expert knowledge in specific areas of commercial goat management and production.  Field days are usually free, though pre-registration is requested.  For a list of current field days, please see our calendar of events.

Regional Goat Networks

As many farmers are discovering, the rapid growth of the dairy goat industry in Wisconsin has outpaced the body of research available to provide timely information to farmers and help them manage and problem-solve on their farms.

In order to fill this gap, Dairy Goat Networks, modeled after the successful Grazing Networks, are being established. 

Dairy goat networks draw upon the collective knowledge and experience of the area's goat farmers to provide each with a more diverse pool of people to consult when faced with issues of production, herd health, milk quality, facility changes, fencing, expansion, or any of the other critical questions facing the industry today.

Networks provide a way for farmers to quickly share information and solve problems together and put them in touch with other resources they can draw upon to improve and grow their businesses.

Dairy Goat Listserve

The WI Dairy Goat Initiative supports a listserve open to anyone interested in learning more about goats.  The listserve is intended primarily for commercial producers and others in the goat industry including lenders, cheese makers, extension agents, academic faculty, veterinarians and other professionals supporting the industry.

All members of the listserve are free to ask questions related to goat management and production and to provide answers to questions posed by other listserve members.

To join the Dairy Goat Listserve, send an email to: jeanne.meier@wisconsin.gov

Sheep and Goat Industry Grant
The American Sheep and Goat Center (ASGC) announces the availability of up to $200,000 in competitive grants for product or business development, producer information or education, marketing and promotion for sheep or goats or their products, genetic retention, and animal health. Eligible applicants, including many business structures but excluding individuals, may apply. The intent is to fund a variety of proposals that will benefit the U.S.
sheep and goat industries.
Proposals are due August 1, 2008.

The Dairy Business Innovation Center!

The Dairy Business Innovation Center offers
technical assistance to dairy producers and
processors in developing value-added dairy
products, business planning and market
development. Contact Jeanne Carpenter
at jeanne@wordartisanllc.com or call 608-358-7837 for more information.  
Jeanne Carpenter