ABSTRACT

Dairy farms that had participated in previous and ongoing projects with the National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC), Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN), and Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) were asked to participate in a 17-question survey by phone or email to investigate biosecurity principles on Minnesota and Wisconsin dairy farms in response to COVID-19 and the effects of the pandemic on the dairy industry. Three additional farms were recruited via a press release published in agricultural newsletters. Of 76 farms contacted, 37 chose to participate in this study from June to July 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, dairies have implemented or increased biosecurity measures and COVID-19 precautions. Dairies reported adequate personal protective equipment for their workers, though face masks were not required on most dairies (n = 32, 86%). Producers were concerned about the safety of their families, maintaining a healthy workforce, and keeping their farms profitable. Access to healthcare was not perceived to be an issue for their workers. One-quarter of dairies reported COVID-19 infections on their farms. Even though the majority had an isolation protocol in place if someone on the farm were to become ill, less than half of respondents felt their farm was protected against COVID-19. Two-thirds of producers have not had to decrease production, and a majority of operations have not furloughed or terminated employees due to COVID-19. Our data suggest that dairy farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin have implemented biosecurity and safety measures in response to COVID-19. These measures can be improved. Farms would benefit from additional guidance and education on implementation of personal protective measures and disease prevention strategies to keep workers employed and safe.

摘要

参与了国家农场医学中心 (NFMC)、移民临床医生网络 (MCN) 和上中西部农业安全与健康中心 (UMASH) 之前和正在进行的项目的奶牛场被要求通过电话参与一项 17 个问题的调查或通过电子邮件调查明尼苏达州和威斯康星州奶牛场的生物安全原则，以应对 COVID-19 以及大流行对奶业的影响。通过在农业通讯中发布的新闻稿招募了另外三个农场。在联系的 76 个农场中，有 37 个选择在 2020 年 6 月至 7 月期间参与本研究。为应对 COVID-19 大流行，奶牛场已实施或增加了生物安全措施和 COVID-19 预防措施。乳品厂报告称其工人有足够的个人防护装备，尽管大多数乳品厂不需要口罩（n = 32, 86%）。生产者担心家人的安全、保持健康的劳动力以及保持农场盈利。他们认为获得医疗保健服务对他们的工人来说不是问题。四分之一的奶牛场报告称其农场感染了 COVID-19。尽管如果农场有人生病，大多数人都制定了隔离协议，但只有不到一半的受访者认为他们的农场受到保护，免受 COVID-19 的侵害。三分之二的生产商不必减少产量，并且大多数企业没有因 COVID-19 而休假或解雇员工。我们的数据表明，明尼苏达州和威斯康星州的奶牛场已实施生物安保和安全措施以应对 COVID-19。这些措施是可以改进的。