Dairy Responding to COVID-19 Podcast by PRO-DAIRY
Alycia Drwencke, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Dairy Responding to COVID-19 -A Limited Podcast Series
Hosted by Rob Lynch, DVM, Dairy Herd Health and Management Specialist, PRO-DAIRY, and Kathy Barrett, Dairy Education, PRO-DAIRY, with interviews of key dairy industry professionals. Check the PRO-DAIRY podcast webpage for the latest podcasts.
EPISODE 1 - COVID 19 OVERVIEW AND MILK DISTRIBUTION
Podcast includes interviews with: Mark Stevenson, Vice President, Milk Division, Cayuga Marketing; Rob Lynch, DVM, Dairy Herd Health and Management Specialist, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY; and Kathy Barrett, Dairy Education, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY.
EPISODE 2 - FEED AND NUTRITION SERVICES
Podcast includes interviews with: Scott Lyndaker, General Manager, Mercer Milling Company and David Horn, DVM, Nutrition Consultant, Poulin Grain.
EPISODE 3 - DAIRY FARMER AND FARM CONSULTANT PERSPECTIVES
Podcast includes interviews with: Meghan Hauser, Dairy Farm Co-Owner, Table Rock Farms, and Corwin Holtz, Owner, Holtz Nelson Dairy Consultants.
EPISODE 4 - ANIMAL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS
Dr. Rick Watters, Regional Director of Quality Milk Production Services, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Allen Fournier, DVM Large Animal Veterinarian, Co-Owner of Maplewood Veterinary Associates, P. C., discuss providing animal health care and services.
EPISODE 5 - ESSENTIAL CARE OF COWS AND EQUIPMENT
Bob Church, General Manager of Finger Lakes Dairy Services, tells us about how his business is keeping milking equipment up and running. Steve Zehr, Premier Select Sires, gives us insight on how he and his technicians are providing reproductive services during COVID-19. Charles Biche, Biche Hoof Care, continues to care for his customers cows while keeping cows and people safe.
EPISODE 6: MILK SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES
This episode includes interviews with: Andrew M. Novaković, PhD, E.V. Baker Professor of Agricultural Economics Emeritus and Chris Wolf, PhD, Applied Economics and Policy Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, SC Johnson College of Business, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University
Upcoming Events
Dairy Feeder School
October 29, 2026 : Dairy Feeder School
Freedom, NY
- One day on-farm training for dairy farm feeders
- Offered in English and Spanish
- Stations with hands-on activities/demos
Tax 102: Tax planning and strategies for Farmers
November 4, 2026 : Tax 102: Tax planning and strategies for Farmers
This webinar follows the "Introduction to Income Taxes" webinar from September, going more into depth on topics including: understanding common tax concepts, tax strategies, long-term approaches to managing taxes, and more!
Labor Roadshow: Practical Workforce Strategies for Agricultural Professionals Across New York
November 30, 2026
December 21, 2026
The Agricultural Workforce Development Council of New York State (AWDC) will celebrate a decade of connecting and educating agricultural professionals when Labor Roadshow X returns this December with five in-person events and two webinars across New York State.
For nearly ten years, the Labor Roadshow has brought agricultural professionals together to learn, connect, and navigate the evolving challenges of agricultural labor. The 2026 event will continue that tradition with timely, expert-led discussions focused on the issues affecting farms and agricultural employers today—including labor law and compliance, employee engagement, retention, and workplace culture.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.





