By Jay Canzonier
The Registered Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship is picking up speed as one of New York’s most innovative workforce training solutions. The three-year program is designed to help farms build skilled employees through structured on-the-job training paired with related technical instruction. For farms competing in a global marketplace, the apprenticeship approach offers a clear path for team growth, something that’s becoming more important than ever.
2025 was a big year for the program. Participation in both the apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship tracks grew as farms recognized the value of structured training to boost productivity, improve retention, and prepare employees for leadership roles. New opportunities for related technical instruction, available through Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development, Cornell ProDairy, Cornell Small Farms Program, SUNY agricultural partners, and county and regional CCE programs, bolstered the catalog of targeted learning opportunities to reach a wider audience and address real farm needs.
To keep the momentum going, Cornell Cooperative Extension recently teamed up with SUNY Apprenticeship Developers and NYSDOL Workforce Program Specialists to host industry roundtables across the North Country. These sessions brought together farm managers, educators, and agency partners to identify ways to expand participation and tackle common challenges. Conversations focused on making the program flexible enough to meet the needs of both employers and employees while supporting long-term retention and career growth.
Looking ahead, winter meetings will focus on expanding the Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship statewide and aligning regional training to support participation. As the program grows, so do the opportunities for farms, for employees, and for the future of New York dairy, one skilled worker at a time.
Want to learn more or become a participating Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship farm?
Contact Jay Canzonier at Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development: jc3277@cornell.edu.
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The post Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship: Growing Skills and Growing Farms appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.
