Managing Coronavirus on Your Dairy Farm

Dr. Richard Stup discusses dairy farmers managing coronavirus

In episode 15 of DairyVoice podcast, Joel Hastings, Editor & Publisher of DairyBusiness News talks about important items for dairy farm managers to consider in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Richard Stup, PhD, who heads the Agricultural Workforce Development program at Cornell University, is widely known for his personnel management expertise. In this episode, he tells us about a variety of issues to consider and plan for in keeping farm families and farm employees safe, and keeping the farm business running. What should the first steps be for a dairy manager? What about managing isolation, tracking, and communication with health authorities? Dr. Stup says to begin to plan right now. You can listen to this episode of DairyVoice at DairyVoice.com, at www.DairyBusiness.com, or through any of the major podcast providers.

Need Information?

View the following Cornell CALS and CCE resources. (Pages are updated regularly.)

• General Questions & Links: eden.cce.cornell.edu
• Food Production, Processing & Safety Questions: instituteforfoodsafety.cornell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19
• Employment & Agricultural Workforce Questions: agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu
• Cornell Small Farms Resiliency Resources: smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/farm-resilience
• Financial & Mental Health Resources for Farmers: www.nyfarmnet.org

News Releases

• Interim Guidance for Horticulture and Nursery Operations, from NYS Ag & Markets (3/24/20)
• Ag & Markets Interim Guidance for Animal Care Operations (3/22/20)

Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development Blog Posts

• Paycheck Protection Program: Producers Can Apply Now (4/3) New information from NY State Department of Ag and Markets on the new federal Paycheck Protection Program.
• CARES ACT’S EMERGENCY RESOURCES FOR FARM BUSINESSES (4/2) Paycheck Protection Loan Program.

• Guidance for Respirator Fitting from NYCAMH (3/28) The NY Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, NYCAMH, has changed their respirator fit clinics because of COVID-19.
• H-2A Update: Emergency Job Orders and Resources for New Employer Applicants (3/26) The federal and state agencies involved with H-2A recognize are allowing farm employers to file emergency applications to participate in the program.
• H-2A Update: Virtual Housing Inspections, Database of Workers, Termination of Existing Job Orders (3/26) Agencies are trying to provide service under new and difficult restrictions and home-based working conditions. In this environment, a few updates for existing growers who use H-2A are in order.
• Farms Are “Essential” in New York, and So Are Farm Employees (3/20) Sample essential employee letters for your farm employees to use when commuting to your essential farm businesses.
• H-2A Visas, Embassy Closures, and Travel Restrictions (3/18) Visas and Travel from Major H-2A Source Countries

Last updated May 8, 2020