The health pandemic induced by the novel coronavirus has upended plans throughout the world, and the agricultural community has not been immune to the situation.

When it comes to the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program, Emily Yeiser Stepp provided some COVID-19 related updates during the recent National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Town Hall meeting.

“Typically, we function on three-year cycles,” Stepp said of the FARM program. “But due to our recommendations, we are temporarily putting on-farm evaluations on hold due to COVID-19. We also have made the decision to extend our program cycles by one year,” said the NMPF staffer in comments now found at FARM Program 2020 Issues Update.

“Previously, Animal Care 4.0, Environmental Stewardship 2.0, and Workforce Development 1.0 would have been in place through the end of 2022. Those programs are now going to remain in place through the end of 2023,” explained the vice president of the National Dairy FARM Program.