While we all learn to deal with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the following resources might be of use. Please note that circumstances are changing breathtakingly fast; this information is current as of the date above.

Cornell University ProDairy did a webinar on March 20 (2020) about COVID-19 and Your Dairy. The webinar recording goes an hour and 15 minutes; they have also provided a pdf with the slides if you’d prefer to just scan through those. While the New York-specific information may not be so relevant, see the sections with federal policies, advisory information, and suggestions for on-dairy adjustments to operations.

This University of Maine Extension bulletin offers some useful guidance as well, including a prioritized farm chore checklist.

Oregon Department of Agriculture COVID-19 Resources provide details on changes to ODA’s operations (dairy inspections to continue as usual; CAFO inspections to proceed as long as social/physical distancing can be maintained) and other useful information.

Oregon Dairy Farmers Association COVID-19 Resources include links to description of changes to federal leave requirements, dairy-specific resources, and templates of “travel-to-work letters” (should they at some point be needed). Note: there is currently no requirement to provide documentation for employees in essential industries, per the Oregon State Police.

A coronavirus (in cross-section) for comparison. This one caused MERS.
image: CDC/ Cynthia Goldsmith; Azaibi Tamin, Ph.D. (2013)
A coronavirus (in cross-section, via electron microscopy) for comparison. This one causes MERS.
image: CDC/ Cynthia Goldsmith; Azaibi Tamin, Ph.D. (2013)
Solar eclipse (1981) showing sun's corona. A view that inspired the name of the virus that has upended everything at the current moment. image: Ray Thomas, http://brisray.com/
Solar eclipse showing sun’s corona. A view that inspired the name of the type of virus that has upended everything at the current moment.
image: Ray Thomas, http://brisray.com/ (1981)