Dairy Industry Invited to Next Conference Call on April 23

The Call Will Focus on Financial and Herd Management Implications of Reduced Milk Production

Over the last two weeks, 800 dairy farmers and industry professionals have participated in dairy industry conference calls to address their questions and concerns about how COVID-19 is affecting the industry. With new issues and changes to the model coming up almost daily, a third conference call has been scheduled for Thursday, April 23 from 12 to 1 p.m.

This week’s conference call will feature industry experts who can answer questions related to the financial and herd management implications of reducing milk production on the farm. We will also have officials on hand to discuss the government’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 situation. Dairy farmers are encouraged to submit questions related to these topics or any other concerns they have about the state of the industry. The following panelists will join the April 23 conference call:

  • Dr. David Kohl, owner of Homestead Creamery and Stoney Brook Farm in Wirtz, VA, and Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. Dr. Kohl will answer questions related to the short-term and long-term financial implications of reducing milk production on the farm to meet COVID-19 market-related requests.
  • Dr. Michael Van Amburgh with Cornell’s Pro-Dairy Team. PRO-DAIRY, a NYS dairy industry educational program, enables farm families and other agricultural professionals to realize their values and strive to achieve their professional and personal goals. Dr. Van Amburgh will answer questions about different strategies to reduce milk production on the farm and how each would impact the herd, both from a short-term and long-term perspective.
  • Dr. Betsy Schroeder, State Public Health Veterinarian with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. With the Governor’s most recent announcement regarding Life Essential Businesses and personal protection equipment, Dr. Schroeder will answer questions about the new order for essential businesses, which includes farms, and how to protect your employees from COVID-19.

In addition to these three panelists, Deputy Secretary Greg Hostetter from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board Chair Rob Barley, and others will be on the call to assist with questions.

To ensure as many questions can be addressed as possible, questions must be submitted in advance of the call. Text/call 717-585-0766 to submit questions or email zmyers@centerfordairyexcellence.org.

Learn more about how to join the conference call:

  • Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020
  • Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
  • How to Join:
    • Dial (978) 990-5000 via free conference call.
    • Enter Access Code 553371, followed by the # sign, when prompted.
    • You will automatically be entered into the conference call. You will automatically be muted when you join.

As the dairy industry works to navigate COVID-19, the Center for Dairy Excellence is offering additional resources for dairy farms, including help in creating contingency plans.