Flood waters can carry microbial and chemical contaminants that can be harmful to humans. Food crops should be assessed to determine if they have been affected by flooding surface water sources including rivers, lakes, or streams. These waters are the highest risk for contaminants. The biggest question to ask is has the edible portion of the crop been exposed to these waters? There is no way to ensure that food crops that have come in contact with contaminated flood waters are safe to eat. Food crops that have been exposed to flood waters should be destroyed so they do not enter market channels. For more information and guidance on how to handle crops and fields that have been flooded visit the Produce Safety Alliance Food Safety for Flooded Farms resource.
Commercial Ag Updates + Farm Food Safety
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Ag Agents provide updates on what they see in the field, upcoming events, and other important news that affects your operation, such as developments in on-farm Food Safety. Subscribe if you wish to be notified about workshops, meetings, and upcoming commercial ag events.
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DEP Website Update Changes Process to Check Pesticide Recertification Credits and Course History
DEP’s pesticide control program website was updated over the past few weeks to reflect that
“Based on the current COVID 19 public health emergency, the Department has extended an interim policy allowing 100% online CEUs for remaining credits to accommodate for applicators whose 5-year recertification cycle ends October 31, 2021 and 2022. To verify you are eligible, please click HERE.”
However, there are no longer directions explaining where certified applicators can check the status of their credits and the course histories. Growers requesting this indicate it takes some searching to find it. Here are revised instructions to get you there. You might want to bookmark whichever site below gets to the information you need most directly.
To review course history:
- go to www.pcpnj.org;
- in the bottom section labeled ‘About US’ (NOT the ‘About DEP’ link in the bottom line!), click on “Pesticides” in the list;
- find and click any one of the links marked ‘NJDEP’s Online Reports‘;
- on the DEP DataMiner site, make sure the Report Category says ‘Pesticide Control Program’ (if not, select it from the menu);
- on the list under ‘Pesticide Licensing’ select the appropriate type of license. There are two reports for each that can be searched by either name or license number:
- Applicator Business
- Certified Pesticide Dealers
- Commercial Certified Pesticide Applicators
- Commercial Pesticide Operators
- Pesticide Dealer Information
- Private Certified Pesticide Applicators
- follow instructions to get your course history information. Select your pesticide license # from the menu. You’ll also need your birth date and last 4 digits of your social security #.
Federally Required Produce Safety Alliance Training Online September 15 and 16, 2021
The Produce Safety Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act is now fully implemented. This means that one person from an operation who sells over $25,000 in fresh produce needs to attend a training course. There are some exemptions and modifications to the rule, but the best way to find out is to attend the course. We will have the next online training September 15 and 16 if 10 people register by September 1. The preregistration is required since training material must be sent to each participant prior to the training. Visit our website to register.
Produce Safety Training:
The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under the standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration’. This is the only training recognized by the FDA at this time!
Fruit and vegetables growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management of natural resources and food safety should also attend this training.
What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course?
This is approximately a seven-hour course to cover these seven modules:
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
- Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module and are included in the grower manual provided. There is time for questions and discussion, so participants are encouraged to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
Benefits of Attending the Course
The course provides a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
- Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
- How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
- Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
- Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.
After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to the trainers at the end of the course.
Inspections:
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) began inspections for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for operations over $500,000. The other size operations will also be delayed by one year i.e. 2020 for small operations and 2021 for very small operations. The first inspections will be educational with the NJDA evaluating the farming operation. This will give the grower an opportunity to see what the NJDA considers area where improvement may be needed. After the inspection NJDA may do another inspection with possible enforcement in the future.
NJDEP has extended 100% online pesticide credits (CEUs) for applicators with recertification periods ending Oct. 31 2021 and now 2022
NJDEP has extended 100% online pesticide recertification credits (CEUs) for applicators with 5-year recertification periods ending Oct. 31 2021 AND now 2022 (NOTE: if your recertification periods ends in 2023 or beyond, you will still be held to only acquiring 25% of your recertification credits via online means, as of now).
Update from the NJDEP’s PCP website (click here for more information)
“Based on the current COVID 19 public health emergency, the Department has extended an interim policy allowing 100% online CEUs for remaining credits to accommodate for applicators whose 5-year recertification cycle ends October 31, 2021 and 2022. To verify if you are eligible, please click HERE.
Numerous online CEU courses are available and the Department continues to work directly with course providers to maintain an adequate number of online courses and CEUs while ensuring providers adhere to minimal online modality standards including student ID verification and class monitoring. For a list of available online CEU courses and providers, please click HERE.
Based on this interim policy, license recertification dates will not be extended. The Department anticipates that those licenses expiring in 2023 and beyond will be held to the standard maximum of 25% online training CEUs, however further policy adjustments will be considered based on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer Precautions in Agriculture
We all want to be healthy and it is important to take measures to prevent illness and injuries. Everyone, especially farmers need to be cautious about their exposure to the ultraviolet rays (UV) of the sun. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and is related to repeated exposure to the sun which causes damaging changes to a person’s skin. The two types of ultraviolet rays most likely to damage a person’s skin and increase the risk for developing skin cancer are Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB).
No one is immune to the sun’s UV rays; however, some skin types are more susceptible than others. People with blonde or red hair, fair skin, or freckles tend to get sunburned more quickly than others and should be even more vigilant about protecting themselves from the sun.
Skin damage builds up over the years, and once the damage has occurred, it cannot be reversed.
Risks of Sun Exposure:
One of the main health concerns of sun exposure is skin cancer. In the United States, one in five people will develop skin cancer. Contact your physician if you notice a difference in your skin or changes in moles regarding asymmetry, border, irregularities, color, or size.
The three main types of skin cancer are basal, squamous, and melanoma. Basal and squamous cancers are typically associated with long-term exposure to the sun but are seldom fatal. Melanoma can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early and can affect people of all ages. When examining your skin for melanoma, look for changes in the size, shape, and color of existing moles and discolored patches of skin that may start small and grow.
Recommendations:
The following recommendations can reduce an agricultural producer’s risk of sun exposure, skin cancer, and other sun-induced conditions:
Sun Intensity – Exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays is most intense between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. When possible, avoid working in direct sunlight during this time. If you must be in the sun during these hours, take shade breaks to reduce exposure, drink plenty of water, and reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.
Sunscreen – Sunscreens have one or more chemicals that absorb or disperse ultraviolet rays. Sun protection factor (SPF) is a numerical rating that indicates a specific amount of protection. You should wear a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, but those with fair skin should use an SPF of 30 or higher. Due to exposure to water, weather, and perspiration, you should reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.
Clothing – Long-sleeved shirts and long pants provide protection from the sun’s rays. Darker clothing with a tight weave provides more protection from the sun than light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Special SPF or UV-resistant clothing is available to reduce exposing your skin to the UV rays.
Hats – When it comes to sun protection, not all hats are created equal. You should wear a wide-brimmed (minimum of three inches wide) hat with flaps or drapes to provide sun protection for your eyes, ears, and neck.
Information adapted from: Sun exposure and agriculture. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/63042/sun-exposure-and-agriculture.
Be Aware of Heat Stress and Weather-Related Injury
As temperature and humidity rise during the summer months of the growing season, it is important to prepare yourself and your employees to prevent heat related injuries. Here are some tips:
Train Employees: Train employees on how to identify possible heat stress symptoms and how to prevent or treat them.
Adjust Work Schedule:
• Monitor temperature and humidity, and workers’ condition during periods of hot/humid weather.
• Schedule strenuous work or tasks requiring personal protective equipment (PPE) for the cooler hours of the day.
• Shorten the length of work periods and increase the length of rest periods.
• Give workers shade or cooling during breaks.
• Monitor weather and inform employees of potentially dangerous conditions.
Drinking. Have adequate water available and encourage employees to drink enough to replace fluid loss through sweating.
Adapted from:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/preventing-heat-stress-agriculture
Heat-related illnesses and agricultural producers. (2019) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/62261/heat-related-illnesses-and-agricultural-producers.
