Natural Disaster Resources

Natural Disaster Guidance for the Dairy Industry

Many producers face urgent needs to take precautions to protect themselves, their workforce and their livestock during unusual climate events. And because emergencies and disasters can occur at any time and without warning regardless of where a farm is located, all dairy producers should consider developing or updating Emergency Action Plans on their farms. Guidance for dairy farmers who may be affected by natural disasters is listed below, along with general emergency preparedness resources.

Summer Weather Preparedness and Safety

Emergency Preparedness

• U.S. Drought Monitor, National Drought Mitigation Center
• Electrical Power Outages, CDC
• Water Conservation and Use on Dairy and Livestock Farms, University of New Hampshire Extension

Workforce Safety

• How To Avoid the Risks of Heat Stress, University of Wisconsin – Madison Extension
• Protect Your Team from the Heat, Dairy Herd Management
• Recognize The Signs of Heat Stroke Before It’s Too Late, Michigan State University Extension

Animal Care

• FARM Animal Care Manual: Protection from Heat and Cold (Pages 32 – 34), FARM Program
• Animal Handling During Heat Stress, University of Wisconsin – Madison Extension
• How to Reduce Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle, University of Missouri Extension
• Dairy Feeding and Management Considerations during Heat Stress, University of Kentucky
• Heat Stress in Dairy Calves, PennState Extension

Wildfire Resources

• Fire Map, National Interagency Fire Center
• Wildfire: Preparing the Farm, Oklahoma State University
• Wildfire Employer Checklist and Training Resources, UC Davis Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
• Protecting Outdoor Workers Exposed to Smoke from Wildfires, Cal/OSHA
• Fire Safety for Your Livestock, CalFire
• Wildfires, Smoke and Livestock, U.C. Davis
• Video: Wildfire Preparedness Tips from a Firefighter, Veterinarian and Ranch Owner, UC Davis Western Institute for Food Safety and Security
• When Wildfire Hits the Ranch: Lessons Learned from the Thomas Fire, Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network
• Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Plan, AgSafe Canada

Hurricane Resources

• Storm Tracking and Forecast, National Hurricane Center
• Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery for Farmers, University of Florida Extension
• Hurricane Preparation for Your Farm, University of Florida Extension
• Disaster Preparedness for Livestock, University of Florida Extension
• Dangerous Weather Considerations for Dairy Producers, NC State Extension

Winter Weather Emergency Resources

Emergency Preparedness

• Winter Weather Monitor, National Weather Service
• Electrical Power Outages, CDC
• Safe Operation of Emergency Generators, Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Winter Preparedness on the Dairy Farm, South Dakota State University Extension
• Preparing Your Farm for Winter, Nebraska Dairy Extension
• Five Steps to Winter Farm Prep, Progressive Dairy
• Do’s and Don’ts for Barn Snow Removal, Cornell University
• Farmstead Recovery Checklist: Snow Load & Barn Collapse, Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Action-Items for Emergency Flood Evacuation for a Dairy, California Dairy Quality Assurance Program

Workforce Safety

• Set Plans for Winter Safety and Continued COVID-19 Controls, Progressive Dairy
• Colder Weather Tips for Dairy Farm Employees (English and Spanish), South Dakota State University Extension
• Winter Tips for Dairy Workers, Ohio State University Extension
• Protecting Workers from Cold Stress (English and Spanish), OSHA
• How to Protect Yourself from Winter Weather, Ready.gov

Animal Care

• FARM Animal Care Manual: Protection from Heat and Cold (Pages 32 – 34), FARM Program
• Tips on Dealing with Extreme Cold on Dairy Farms, Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Managing Dairy Cattle in Cold Weather, University of Minnesota Extension
• Tips to Protect Livestock During Extreme Winter Weather, NJ Dept. of Agriculture
• Severe Cold Weather Livestock Considerations, Colorado State University Extension
• Managing Hypothermia in Newborn Calves, K-State Extension

Recovery

• Winter Storm Disaster Assistance Available to Livestock Producers, Dairy Herd Management
• California Dairies: Coping with Flooding and Evacuation, California Dairy Quality Assurance Program

Disaster Relief Resources

• Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool: Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs that might be right for you by completing five simple steps.
• Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): LIP provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather. LIP payments are equal to 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock.
• Livestock Forage Program (LFP): LFP provides payments to eligible livestock owners who have covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage that have suffered a loss of grazed forage due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county.
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP): ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock for losses due to certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, such as losses not covered by LFP or LIP.
• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters.
• Emergency Conservation Program (ECP):ECP helps farmers and ranchers to repair damage to farmlands caused by natural disasters and to help put in place methods for water conservation during severe drought. The ECP does this by giving ranchers and farmers funding and assistance to repair the damaged farmland or to install methods for water conservation.