NATIONAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
DAIRY HERD IMPROVEMENT
1985
NATIONAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
EASTWOOD, B.R.
VOLUME: NCDHIP HANDBOOK
The Memorandum of Understanding for the National Cooperative Dairy
Herd Improvement Program (NCDHIP) is an agreement among the
sponsoring groups that outlines the responsibilities of each and
the general manner in which the program will be conducted. The
first memorandum was developed in 1952. An updated memorandum was
signed in 1969 by Cooperative Extension in each state and by the
Agricultural Research Service and Extension Service, USDA.
The most recent Memorandum of Understanding, which follows,
recognizes the National Dairy Herd Improvement Association
(National DHIA) as a sponsor of the program and is signed by
Cooperative Extension in each state, National DHIA, ARS-USDA,
ES-USDA, and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy
(ECOP). This memorandum was signed by all states before July 1,
1953, and is currently operational in all states.
Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Dairy Herd
Improvement Association, Inc., The Extension Service and
Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of
Agriculture, and the Cooperative Extension Service of the State of
------------------
The National Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Inc., hereinafter
referred to as National DHIA, the Extension Service and
Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, hereinafter referred to as ES and ARS respectively,
and the Cooperative Extension Service of -------------------,
hereinafter referred to as CES, hereby enter into this Memorandum
of Understanding for carrying out the National Cooperative Dairy
Herd Improvement Program, hereinafter referred to as the NCDHIP.
The NCDHIP is sponsored by National DHIA, ES, ARS, and the CES.
Authority for NCDHIP rules, policies, and the quality certification
standards is vested in the NCDHIP Policy Board according to this
Memorandum. Participating dairy farmers are members of Dairy Herd
Improvement Associations which carry out a performance recording
program under these rules, policies, and standards. National DHIA
and its members are responsible for dairy herd improvement services
and for enforcement of NCDHIP rules, policies, and quality
certification standards. ES is responsible for national
coordination and leadership of Extension education programs in
record collection, evaluation and use. ARS is responsible for
conducting the national genetic evaluation research program based
on NCDHIP data. CES and the State DHIA agree as to the manner in
which the NCDHIP is conducted and the responsibility for record
certification within that State by means of a signed Memorandum of
Understanding within the rules, policies, and standards of the
NCDHIP. In States where no State DHIA exists, responsibility for
conduct of the program within the State shall be determined by the
NCDHIP Policy Board.
The NCDHIP includes official and non-official production
recordkeeping plans. DHIA records shall be certified as official
when verified as having been made in accordance with the policies,
rules and standards established by the Policy Board. The NCDHIP
involves on-the-farm services, demonstration, Extension education,
and research. It provides farmers with services needed to
effectively and economically breed, feed, and manage their herds on
a day-to-day basis. NCDHIP production records provide the basis for
education, research, and genetic evaluation programs. These data
are vital to dairy Extension education programs and to research
programs of State Experiment Stations and ARS and are available
according to guidelines developed by the NCDHIP Policy Board.
Lactation production records are used by ARS in research to
establish the genetic transmitting ability of dairy animals, and
the findings are made available to dairy farmers and cooperating
groups (artificial insemination units, dairy cattle and dairy goat
breed registry organizations and others) according to NCDHIP
policies and appropriate agreements between National DHIA, ARS, and
the cooperating groups.
A. Objectives of the NCDHIP
1. To provide useful and accurate information that can be used by
dairy farmers to improve the efficiency of their operations,
thereby benefiting themselves and the consumers of their products.
2. To maintain uniformity and a high standard of integrity in
recordkeeping systems to provide authentic information to dairy
farmers and give reliability to scientific studies and educational
demonstrations.
3. To provide data to State Experiment Stations, CES, ES, and ARS
for use in research and education, including the development of
effective procedures for estimating the genetic transmitting
abilities of dairy animals.
4. To provide summaries and analyses of information from
participating herds to dairy farmers, to research, teaching and
Extension personnel, and to others as appropriate.
B. The National DHIA Agrees To:
1. Cooperate with all appropriate parties to implement the rules,
policies, and standards of the NCDHIP Policy Board.
2. Take responsibility on a national basis to ensure a high level
of performance of dairy herd improvement services including
organizational management, business procedures, and day-to-day
administration of the NCDHIP.
3. Take responsibility on a national basis to certify that the
NCDHIP is conducted in each State in accordance with NCDHIP rules,
policies, and the quality certification standards. This is the
Quality Certification Service of National DHIA.
4. Sign appropriate membership agreements with each State DHIA
member of National DHIA.
5. Work with each State DHIA to ensure each individual dairy
farmer participating in the NCDHIP signs an agreement to abide by
the rules, policies, and standards of the NCDHIP.
6. Take responsibility on a national basis for enforcement of
NCDHIP rules, policies, and standards and for appropriate hearing
procedures as needed at local, State, and national levels.
7. Keep ES, ARS and CES informed about problems or conditions of
mutual concern.
C. The ES Agrees To:
1. Cooperate with all appropriate parties to implement the rules,
policies, and standards of the NCDHIP Policy Board.
2. Provide national coordination and leadership of Extension
education programs to improve the accuracy and usefulness of NCDHIP
records and to extend their use in herd management and improvement
of dairy animals, in cooperation with ARS, the State CES,
Agricultural Experiment Stations, and other interested groups.
3. Keep National DHIA, ARS and CES informed about problems or
conditions of mutual concern.
D. The ARS Agrees To:
1. Cooperate with all appropriate parties to implement the rules,
policies, and standards of the NCDHIP Policy Board.
2. Conduct a national genetic evaluation research program for
dairy animals based on NCDHIP data and publish the results.
3. Compile and publish timely summary information on the NCDHIP
on a State, regional, and national basis.
4. Plan and conduct national research programs to improve the
accuracy and usefulness of NCDHIP records for herd management and
improvement of dairy animals, in cooperation with ES, the State
CES, Agricultural Experiment Stations, and other interested groups.
5. Provide records and summaries to cooperating groups
(artificial insemination units, dairy cattle and dairy goat breed
registry organizations and others) according to NCDHIP policies and
ate agreements between National DHIA, ARS, and the cooperating
groups.
6. Keep National DHIA, ES, and CES informed about problems or
conditions of mutual concern.
E. The CES Agrees To:
1. Cooperate with all appropriate parties to implement the rules,
policies, and standards of the NCDHIP Policy Board.
2. Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the State DHIA
agreeing to responsibilities for record certification,
administration, and conduct of the NCDHIP within the State.
3. Assist dairy farmers and DHI organizations in the
interpretation of national rules, policies, and standards and in
the conduct of quality programs within the State.
4. Assist DHI organizations, as appropriate, in training
supervisors and other personnel.
5. Encourage dairy farmers to organize or join DHI organizations
and participate in the NCDHIP.
6. Advise dairy farmers and DHI organizations regarding on-farm
computer applications and relationships with Dairy Record
Processing Centers.
7. Advise dairy farmers and Dairy Record Processing Centers in
developing new information in DHI records.
8. Plan and conduct education programs to help dairy farmers use
their DHI records for herd management and improvement of dairy
animals.
9. Keep National DHIA, ES, and ARS informed about problems or
conditions of mutual concern.
F. It Is Mutually Agreed That:
1. The NCDHIP Policy Board is the authority and policymaking body
of the NCDHIP according to this Memorandum of Understanding.
2. The Policy Board is initially composed of twelve (12) voting
members, as follows:
a. Five (5) representatives of National DHIA.
b. One (1) representative of USDA Agricultural Research
Service;
c. One (1) representative of USDA Extension Service;
d. One (1) representative of the Extension Committee on
Organization and Policy;
e. Two (2) State Extension Dairy Specialists representing
their counterparts in the various states;
f. One (1) representative of the Purebred Dairy Cattle
Association; and
g. One (1) representative of the National Association of
Animal Breeders.
3. The Chairperson of the Policy Board is elected by the Policy
Board from among its voting members. Term of office and eligibility
for election are determined by the Policy Board.
4. The Secretary of the Policy Board is a non-voting position
filled by a staff person from National DHIA.
5. The Policy Board shall convene at least annually.
6. The Policy Board may:
a. Develop policies and rules for operation of the Policy Board
and the NCDHIP;
b. Approve standards for quality certification;
c. Appoint standing and ad hoc committees as needed;
d. Set schedules and deadlines; and
e. Delegate responsibilities within the framework of this
Memorandum of Understanding.
7. Changes in the structure of the Policy Board may be made at
any time by amendment to this Memorandum upon mutual agreement
between National DHIA, ES, ARS and ECOP (acting for the State
Cooperative Extension Service).
8. This Memorandum of Understanding is to define in general terms
the basis on which the participants hereto cooperate, and does not
constitute a financial obligation or serve in any other manner as
basis for the expenditure of funds.
9. The parties hereto sustain their activities in support of the
Policy Board from their own funds contingent upon availability of
funds from which expenditures legally may be made.
10. This Memorandum of Understanding supersedes all previous
Memoranda or other agreements concerning the NCDHIP between each
State CES, ES, and ARS and between each State CES and National
DHIA.
11. This Memorandum of Understanding becomes effective upon date
of final signature and shall continue in effect indefinitely.
12. This Memorandum of Understanding may be terminated or revised
at the request of any party hereto. Requests for termination or
revision shall be in writing and submitted to the other national
parties for consideration not less than six (6) months in advance
of the effective date of termination or revision.
Date President, National Dairy Herd Improvement
Association, Inc.
Date Administrator, Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture
Date Administrator, Agricultural Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Date Chairperson, Extension Committee on
Organization and Policy
Date Director, Cooperative Extension Service,
State of --------
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תתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתThe National Dairy Database (1992)תתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתת
תתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתת\NDB\DAIRY\TEXT\DA104300.TXTתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתתת
%f TITLE;NATIONAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
%f COLLECTION;DAIRY HERD IMPROVEMENT
%f ORIGIN;District of Columbia
%f DATE_INCLUDED;June 1992