Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) will offer three programs in the next three weeks designed to help the dairy industry proactively respond to the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1) among U.S. dairy herds. These education sessions are open to anyone working in the dairy industry, regardless of their membership status with WCMA. 

 "Employee safety is always a top concern for dairy processors, and its importance has only grown as H5N1 has spread among dairy herds. WCMA is here to help, connecting the industry with experienced, trusted resources to help navigate an evolving situation,” said Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy. 

 Two webinars and one workshop (see WisCheeseMakers.org/Events) are scheduled for July and August, focused on pressing topics facing the dairy industry.
 
Free Webinar: H5N1 & Employee Safety 

Join WCMA and experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for “H5N1 & Employee Safety” on Tuesday, July 30 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. (CT). This free, informative program will feature guest presenters Dr. Carrie Reed, Chief of the Prevention and Epidemiology Branch in CDC’s Influenza Division and Epidemiology Task Force and Lead for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases’ H5N1 Response efforts; and Dr. John Gibbins, Senior Veterinary Advisor for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Office of Agriculture Safety and Health. This webinar will provide an overview of how infection spreads, practical recommendations to help your valued team members stay safe on the job, a review of the H5N1 safety resources available to dairy processors, and a live Q&A session with presenters. 

Free Webinar: H5N1 Food Safety Research & Regulatory Updates  

Set for Tuesday, August 6 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. (CT), “H5N1 Food Safety Research & Regulatory Updates” features speaker Dr. Steven Grube, Chief Medical Officer in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Dr. Grube will discuss FDA’s efforts to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply amid H5N1 and share the results of the agency’s food safety testing to date. This free webinar will also offer H5N1 resources tailored to dairy processors and include a live Q&A.
 
Hybrid Workshop: Enhancing On-Farm Biosecurity Practices Amid H5N1 

Dairy farmers and processors alike are encouraged to join WCMA’s workshop, “Enhancing On-Farm Biosecurity Practices Amid H5N1,” on Tuesday, August 13 from 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (CT). Expert speakers include Dr. Doris Olander, Veterinary Medical Officer Epidemiologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Dr. Keith Poulsen, Director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin; and Karen Endres, Farmer Wellness Program Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Offered both in-person and online, this event offers a mix of informative presentations and practical exercises focused on dairy farm biosecurity planning and mitigating farmer stress, as well as a review of the resources available to farmers and processors and a live Q&A with presenters. Online participation for this productive session is free, and in-person registration costs just $25.