ROCHESTER, Ind. — Mark Kepler, Purdue University extension educator for agriculture and natural resources and host for the Feb. 18 commercial vegetable grower’s workshop, concluded the session with tips for handling manure on or near produce farms.

"Every year about one in six Americans (48 million people) get sick from something they ate," he said. "And every year there is a new food that everyone says not to eat. One year it was Indiana cantaloupe. It ruined a lot of people’s livelihood for that year – a lot of people who had done nothing wrong."

Noting that manure had been implicated in a number of outbreaks, including cabbage, spinach, lettuce and cantaloupes, he said pathogens triggering infections are also found in soil, people, water, livestock, pets and wildlife.

"All manure can carry pathogens, even from cats and dogs," he explained.

Pathogens that cause foodborne illness include bacteria, viruses, parasites and salmonella. "Do everything you can to keep manure off produce," he added. "The goal is to prevent contamination."

Since pathogens in manure have been reported to survive for a year or longer, Kepler gave suggestions for avoiding cross-contamination:

•Keep manure-spreading equipment away from other equipment – give the honeywagon an isolated spot in the fencerow

•Leave chore boots with livestock and don’t wear them into the produce patch

•Change clothing after working with or around manure

•Clean equipment properly, avoid spreading contamination with dirty wash water and sanitize before use in production or other produce operations

•Each farm needs protocol for washing/rinsing spreading equipment – wash in the field using a gas-powered pressure washer

•Don’t forget to clean the undercarriage and tires of vehicles

Complete information about when and how manure can be applied and certification rules for people applying or transporting manure are available at county extension offices.