MSU Extension to host Healthy Animals, Strong Farms biosecurity webinar for small farms and agricultural service providers
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EmailIf you raise livestock or are work with farmers, you are invited to participate in an upcoming educational webinar focused on strengthening farm biosecurity and protecting animal health across Michigan.
Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, will host the Healthy Animals, Strong Farms Biosecurity Training webinar on March 23, 2026, at 7 p.m. The session is part of a training series designed to help small farms and those who work directly with these farms better understand how to protect animal health and support resilient farm operations. Participants are asked to register for the webinar.
Biosecurity practices are essential for preventing the spread of disease and maintaining animal well-being, regardless of farm size, species or production model. This training will provide practical, real-world strategies that small farms and agricultural professionals can use when working with livestock farms throughout the state.
Participants will learn that everyday practices, such as managing downtime between farm visits, maintaining proper sanitation, coordinating visitor access, and improving livestock handling protocols can significantly reduce disease risk. The webinar will focus on simple steps that can be implemented on farms of all sizes, including small and diverse operations.
This training is especially relevant for agricultural service providers who work closely with small farms, beginning farmers, and historically underserved producers, including Black, Indigenous, and other farmers of color (BIPOC). By strengthening biosecurity knowledge among those who support farms, the program aims to ensure that all producers have access to the practical tools that protect animal health and strengthen the long-term success of their operations.
“Strong biosecurity practices protect more than individual farms — they protect the entire agricultural community,” Mike Metzger, MSU Extension Educator, said. “By equipping agricultural service providers with the tools and knowledge to support farms of all types and backgrounds, we can help build a more resilient and inclusive food and agriculture system across Michigan.”
This webinar will provide a welcoming and collaborative learning environment where participants can explore real-world scenarios, discuss best practices and gain resources to share with farmers and service providers in their communities.
