A UVM blog Out Croppings: Important crop news from the field!

Prevention of the spread of livestock disease is the responsibility of anyone who works with or on farms.  Be prepared to take the appropriate measures to protect the farms you visit and minimize the risk of introducing disease.

When visiting any livestock farm:

• Educate yourself on the current disease risks in your area and beyond.
  • Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Livestock (usda.gov)
  • HPAI in Dairy Cows – An Emerging Animal Health Issue | Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets (vermont.gov)
  • HPAI_H5N1_in_U.S._Dairy_Cattle_Updates_and_Resources_051024.pdf (uvm.edu)
• Communicate with the producer prior to visiting about biosecurity measures and protocols, expectations and risk assessment for the visit.  Establish permission to visit the premise.
• Wear disposable, single use plastic boot covers (6ml thickness)

or sanitize boots upon entering the farm premise and when leaving with approved chemicals EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Avian Influenza [List M] | US EPA. There are many locations these products can be found including Amazon.com, https://farmerboyag.com, and farm supply stores.

• Limit farm visits to one farm per day

or wear disposable coveralls or change clothing between visits

• Avoid cross contamination from traveling between animal feeding areas, feed storage, milking facilities or transfer areas and animal housing
• Sanitize any sampling equipment upon entering and leaving the farm
• Park in identified parking areas.  Avoid driving in feeding areas, feed storage areas, milk transfer areas, equipment traffic lanes or animal housing.  Vehicle tires should be clean and free from organic matter.
• Wear disposable gloves when handling animals, feed or manure.  Wash hands with soap and water.
• Avoid direct contact with livestock.
• Make biosecurity practices easy: if you visit farms frequently keep a prepared tote in your vehicle with the supplies that you may need:
  • Clean boots
  • Boot wash bucket or tub and brush
  • Sanitizing chemical for boots and equipment
  • Disposable, single use plastic boot covers
  • Clean clothing, coveralls or disposable coveralls
  • Disposable gloves
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Trash bags
  • Water

When planning for and facilitating on farm events or workshops:

• Only do so with the owner’s permission and make sure the producer is comfortable with opening their farm to the public.  Consider the risk level of the participant audience for the event:

• Low risk: event participants present very little risk of introducing disease to the farm because they have no other livestock contact and do not frequently visit farms.
• Moderate risk: event participants present some risk of introducing disease to the farm because they regularly work on farms but have little to no contact with livestock or feed and follow biosecurity protocols during their farm visits.
• High risk: event participants present risk of introducing disease to the farm because they are regularly in direct contact with livestock.
Communicate with the producer and participants prior to the event about biosecurity measures, protocols and expectations for the event.

Provide biosecurity signage to the producer as needed; Establish and communicate boundaries for where participants may and may not have access to on the farm.  Printable signage is available at Biosecurity – National Dairy FARM Program

Clearly label or communicate where participants should park.  Avoid vehicles driving in feeding areas, feed storage, milk transfer areas, equipment traffic lanes or animal housing.  All vehicle tires should be clean and free from visible organic matter.

Provide disposable, single-use plastic boots for all participants.  Boots should not be removed during the event and should be replaced if they become damaged at any time while in use.

Provide waste collection and disposal of used plastic boots upon conclusion of the event.

Avoid direct contact between participants and livestock.

Provide hand sanitizer or hand washing stations to participants.

Avoid participant travel between animal feeding areas, feed storage, milking facilities or transfer areas and animal housing.

Be flexible in planning your event and be prepared to cancel if concern or risk increases.

Collect contact information for all participants in case follow-up communication is needed.

 Additional farm biosecurity resources, training and information:

Home – Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture

Dairy-Cattle-Biosecurity-Recommendations-Influenza-V1.1.pdf (nmpf.org)

H5N1 in Dairy Cattle – NMPF