Minnesota/Wisconsin Engineering Notes

February 2004 Postharvest and Alternative Energy Info on Web Your Farm Doesn’t Have to Smell that Bad Science-based Information on Manure Management Issues Competitive Milking? Bedded Pack Housing For Dairy Cows Livestock Ventilation Design—Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality Concerns EDEN – Extension Disaster Education Network Workshops on Food System Terrorist Threats Irrigated Acres Update New Book and Companion CD Focus on Dairy Replacements Resources Calendar

Workshops on Food System Terrorist Threats John Shutske, Minnesota Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist Six regional workshops dealing with terrorist threats to our agriculture and food processing industries will be held in Minnesota’s major agricultural regions this March. The workshops are scheduled for Marshall (March 9), St. Cloud (March 10), Mankato (March 17), Rochester (March 24), Crookston (March 30), and Fergus Falls (March 31). The workshops are designed to meet the programming and planning needs of county emergency managers, public health directors, veterinarians, law enforcement officials, food producers, processors, retailers, FSA directors, county commissioners, and Extension Educators. Each four-hour workshop will include a 45-minute segment in which participants will develop a local hazard and threat assessment and prepare for intentional and unintentional emergency events. In a November 2003 report to Congress, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reported that the nation’s agriculture and food sectors have several characteristics that make them uniquely vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The GAO report states that these attacks could be aimed at several targets “in the farm-to-table food continuum—including crops, livestock, food products in the processing and distribution chain, wholesale and retail facilities, storage facilities, transportation, and food and agriculture research laboratories.” Most people believe that terrorists would attack livestock and crops if their primary intent was to cause severe economic dislocation. Such an attack would cause severe disruption—the U.S. agriculture sector accounts for about 13 percent of the gross domestic product and 18 percent of domestic employment. On the other hand, terrorists would choose to contaminate finished food products and fresh fruits and vegetables if harm to humans was their motive. The March workshops will cover all segments of the food system, and will include a basic overview of the primary threats and hazards, as well as an opportunity to work in teams to plan specific actions and outcomes. The program will be sponsored by the University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Preparedness with a grant from CDC, and by the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Assistance is also provided by the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Public Safety. A $10 workshop fee will be charged to cover local facility and logistical costs. For more information about specific times, locations, and payment information, visit the “EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOPS” link on our main webpage at: http://safety.coafes.umn.edu, or contact: John Shutske 612/626-1250 or shutske@umn.edu.

The information given in this publication is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.