Dairy Australia aims to ensure farmers, their families, staff and communities are safe and well as the situation around COVID-19
evolves. The dairy industry has a dedicated group which is actively monitoring the situation and meeting regularly to
manage the impact for dairy farmers and the wider industry.

How do I managed the impact of COVID-19 on my farm business?

Dairy farmers have a number of options to prepare their business and make contingency plans.
Farmers can consider:

• Protecting your staff from exposure – consider international visitors, people returning from overseas from at risk areas, and
consider self-isolation if staff are unwell.
• Potential impacts on your business and ability to operate.
• Operating with limited labour due to staff having to self-isolate following travel or closure of schools or childcare
• What goods (e.g. chemicals) do you rely on to keep your business going in the coming three to four months.
Contact suppliers to secure goods or source alternatives.
• At this point the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Australian Veterinary Association indicated there is
no evidence that livestock can contract or spread the disease.

Visit Fair Work Ombudsman website to read about COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws

Do I need a Biosecurity Plan?

Where possible, dairy farmers should enact a biosecurity plan which can be created using Dairy Australia’s Biosecurity tool

This includes procedures around:

• Farm visitors
• Thorough business hygiene practices for staff

How do I stay updated?

• To stay up-to-date as to how to best protect yourself against COVID-19, please check-out these resources from
the Department of Health.
• If you are employing people, have a look at these resources with advice for employers.
• To stay up-to-date about travel restrictions, please check out the Department of Health’s website or the
Smartraveller website