By DOUG SCHMITZ
Iowa Correspondent

DES MOINES, Iowa — In the wake of last month’s salmonella outbreak, Iowa’s top agriculture official said federal oversight within the U.S. egg industry is necessary to ensure rules and regulations remain consistent across state lines.

“As part of this responsibility, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) is tasked with preventing the spread of diseases such as salmonella,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.

Northey said responsible Iowa farmers who take great pride in the integrity of the food they grow have been greatly troubled by the Aug. 13 recall of more than 500 million eggs from Wright County Egg in Galt.

“Farmers and consumers alike have been concerned by the reports of the conditions inside the facilities where the recalled eggs were produced,” he said. “The (FDA) is responsible for the safety of foods in general, including whole shell eggs.”

Although the FDA’s investigation is ongoing, its Sept. 9 preliminary report – in which the federal agency conducted 483 inspectional observations – showed Wright County Egg wasn’t following normal industry standards. In its report, the FDA found violations such as overflowing manure storage facilities, poultry and wildlife co-mingling, flies and maggots in hen houses and flies on eggs.

“These violations indicate a serious management problem at that particular facility, and as a farmer, I am offended by the nature of the reported violations,” said Northey, a fourth-generation Spirit Lake corn and soybean grower. “But it is important to remember that this is an isolated management problem, not an industry norm.”

According to the Iowa Poultry Assoc. (IPA) in Urbandale, Iowa egg farmers generate 7,600 jobs in the state. Kevin Vinchattle, IPA executive director, said the recent salmonella outbreak has historically been an extremely rare occurrence, but that consumers should understand Iowa’s egg farmers take it very seriously.

“The Iowa Poultry Assoc. will continue to analyze these reports and other information as the process continues toward its conclusion,” he said.

Northey said he’s had the opportunity to visit numerous farms and “can report that Iowa farmers are among the most caring, hard-working and responsible farmers in the country. They have to be; they grow and raise the food that helps feed the world.”

According to Hongwei Xin, Iowa State University professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and a specialist in poultry housing, the conditions the FDA found at Wright County Egg aren’t consistent with the operations on the more than 50 egg farms he has visited across Iowa.

Northey said the facts show that salmonella doesn’t discriminate based on size or method of farming.

Despite these isolated incidences at two of the state’s egg farms (the second was Hillandale Farms of Iowa) that sparked the massive recall of nearly one billion salmonella-tainted shelled eggs, Northey said Iowa farmers who follow the rules and have implemented the best management practices have helped Iowa remain the nation’s top egg producer.

“Over the last 10 years, Iowa farmers have been able to safely deliver 100 billion eggs to customers around the world because they care deeply about the health of their animals and the wholesomeness of their products,” he said.

The FDA’s report stated that from May 1-Sept. 7, approximately 1,519 illnesses had been reported that were likely to be associated with the outbreak.

“What’s important now is how we can prevent this type of outbreak from happening anywhere, ever again,” Northey said. “The FDA is now stepping up their inspections of egg production facilities to ensure best management practices are being followed.”

Given what the FDA had found at Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa, Northey said it’s also worrisome that some activists (such as animal-rights) are taking advantage of the recall.

“Rather than trying to make food safer, they are trying to advance their agenda,” he said. “It is vital we learn from this situation, punish those responsible and continue to build on our efforts to improve food safety.

“Farmers, their families and everyone else who enjoys a hearty ‘eggs and bacon’ breakfast expect nothing less.”

To date, Jack DeCoster, owner of Wright County Eggs and Hillandale Farms of Iowa, has refused numerous requests to testify before an Iowa House committee concerning his part in the salmonella outbreak and massive egg recall. Now, state lawmakers are considering a subpoena that would force him to appear before the committee.

And, according to The Associated Press, a federal Congressional committee has requested inspection records and documents related to allegations of problems at farms with ties to Jack DeCoster, including several in Maine.

State Veterinarian Don Hoenig said he pushed for Maine’s rules because of salmonella found in chicken houses in the past in the state. He said no commercial farm buildings have tested positive since October 2009.

Hoenig added Maine has regulations that go beyond federal requirements.

For example, Maine requires vaccinations of young birds for salmonella, follow-up tests to ensure the vaccinations worked and stepped-up inspections and cleaning of buildings.