Extreme snowfall can bring a wave of unique challenges to the
agriculture industry – from milk trucks being unable to reach farms to feed
shipments being delayed on roads and railways. Should the pending winter storm
delay the arrival of milk trucks, we want to offer some quick guidance on how
milk should be dumped if needed.
Here’s a few tips to help you prepare:
- Contact co-ops and
milk haulers in advance of the storm to discuss your storage tank capacity
and possible alternate pick-up schedules.
- Reach out to your township
supervisor to alert them to pickup and delivery needs at your farm and
receive updates on when roads leading to your farm may be plowed.
- Make arrangements for
snow removal and clearing on your farm, including private farm lanes.
If you do have to dump milk, please follow this guidance:
- Take all necessary
steps to prevent milk from entering any waterways.
- Dump milk into a
manure pond or natural depression.
- Only dump the amount
of milk necessary to accommodate the needed milking due to runoff when
snow melts.
To learn more about disaster preparedness, visit www.readypa.org.