During the summer of 2023, UVM Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Professor Julie Smith, along with two veterinary student interns, embarked on a project that took them to eight dairy farms across Vermont. Their goal was to help farmers prepare emergency biosecurity plans and maps, in order to respond to a possible foreign animal disease outbreak such as foot-and-mouth disease.
The plan template was based on the Secure Milk Supply Plan, and the National Milk Producers Federation Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) plan.
The participating farms:
- Allendale Farm, Panton.
- Clifford Farm, Starksboro.
- Corse Farm Dairy, Whitingham.
- Cutting Hill Beef Farm, Whiting.
- Paul-Lin Dairy, East Fairfield.
- Vorsteveld Dairy Farm, Panton.
- Woodnotch Farms, Shoreham.
- UVM Dairy Farm, Burlington.
Smith and the interns, Massle Thach from Tufts University, and Adrian Dixon from Purdue University, also piloted a newly developed biosecurity mapping tool, the Secure Ag Farm Mapping App. The mapping app was developed by students working with UVM’s Social Ecological Gaming and Simulation Laboratory (SEGS Lab), with oversight by Managing Director Dr. Scott Merrill. The app assists with the creation of enhanced biosecurity maps based on an aerial view of the farm. It is flexible enough to be used for mapping hazards or other features of the farm for training purposes, too.
Joanna Cummings, communications professional working with Dr. Smith, prepared and delivered plans to the farms in early December, 2023. Below are photos of each farm that received emergency biosecurity plans.
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