Emergency Preparedness on Dairies

Emergency preparedness is something we all know we should do, but unfortunately it often ends up on the “to do list” never getting checked off as completed. We know emergencies happen, we just don’t know to whom, when or what type of emergency. Being prepared for an emergency on your dairy can significantly improve recovery time from an unexpected incident.

Dairies lend themselves to some unique circumstances when it comes to farm emergencies involving livestock. Why? Milking at the farm occurs 365 days of the year. This requires a source of energy to milk the cows, cool the milk and provide water, feed and manure removal for the cows. Secondly, there is often many animals in a concentrated area requiring numerous people to care for the animals. There is often limited English proficiency, and communication in an emergency can be challenging.

Training employees annually in some basic areas will help expedite the recovery time should an emergency occur. What are some of the major areas to cover?

1. How to contact YOU or a designated farm manager.
2. How to contact emergency services giving an accurate farm name and location address.
3. How to contact the herd veterinarian if one is not on staff.
4. How to shut down equipment in an emergency.
5. How to operate equipment under back-up emergency power utilization.
6. How to operate a fire extinguisher and where is it located.

Talk with employees and family members about what they are to do if an emergency occurs and designate emergency responsibilities. It is also recommended to have emergency contact information listed and posted in an area that all can access. Provide a Spanish version if English proficiency is limited. Posters are available through the National Dairy Farm Program – FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) for free online. You as an owner/manager will also want to have a list of emergency contact info outside of emergency services (911) such as the following: Milk hauler, Milk Processor/Field Representative, Milk Equipment Dealer, Machinery Dealer, Feed Dealer, Veterinarian, and your Insurance Agent.

Back-up power for dairy farms is a necessity. Making sure it is operational and in proper working order should be a priority with testing conducted on a regular basis. It is also recommended to have two separate generators, one to operate the milking parlor and the second to perform other tasks such as pumping water, running augers and manure systems. In addition, to making sure they are working properly, they should have adequate fuel and load tests conducted so you know how much equipment you are able to operate per generator.

Lastly, producers should have a plan in place if cows are unable to be milked at the present location and would need to be relocated.

Nobody wants to think about the “unimaginable emergency” but being prepared ahead of time will help expedite recovery efforts and minimize losses.

Source: Tracey Erickson, South Dakota State University, iGrow