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
Quality Wool Workshop
March 21, 2026
Alfred, NY
Please join us for a day of workshops and hands-on activities for shepherds, shearers, fiber artists, and interested community members -- learn how to produce quality fleece, process wool at-home, access markets for your wool, help your local shepherds, and strengthen our regional wool supply chain! Hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany County in collaboration with Allegany Fresh Transport, Northeast Fiber Exchange (NEFX), Southern Tier Fiber Arts Guild, and Crooked Lane Farm. The workshop will be held at the Union University Church Community Center in Alfred, NY on Saturday, March 21st from 10 AM to 4 PM.
NY Beef Producers Assoc. & Chautauqua County Beef Producers Assoc. Region 2 Annual Meeting
March 24, 2026
Ellicottville, NY
Join us for an engaging and informative round table discussion focused on practical, performance driven cattle nutrition. This panel brings together industry leaders with hands on experience in dairy and beef strategies, ration formulation, ingredient sourcing, and on farm management.
All are welcome.
Membership is these beef producer groups is not required.
NY Beef Producers Association Region 4 Annual Meeting
April 4, 2026
Alfred, NY
Open to all interested beef and dairy producers!
Presentations:
- Tube Feeding 101
- Early Calf Care Tips
- Handling Livestock Safely
Membership in the beef producer association is not required to attend. New memberships and renewals will be accepted at the meeting; drawing will be held for 1 free membership or renewal.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.





