| News from Around the Farm World - Dec. 16, 2009 |
|
|
|
Auditor: Tracing system flawed
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A crucial part of the nation’s rapid-response plan is seriously flawed, an independent watchdog agency has found.
Federal auditors found that nearly half the food manufacturers they surveyed that are supposed to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) failed to give the agency accurate contact information, according to a report released Friday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services inspector general’s office.
The report follows a series of high-profile food safety problems in the United States involving everything from disease-ridden ground beef to the largest peanut butter recall in history. A key lawmaker called the findings “appalling.
“The weaknesses in our food safety system that are highlighted in the report are unacceptable,” said U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who chairs the House spending panel that oversees the FDA budget. “Congress should pass comprehensive food safety legislation to give FDA the statutory authority it needs.”
Companies that manufacture, process, pack or hold food eaten in the United States are required by federal law to provide their address and basic contact information to the FDA, so investigators can follow suspect foods through the supply chain.
After interviewing managers at a sample of 130 such companies, however, government investigators found that 48 percent didn’t give the agency accurate information. More than half were unaware companies had to register, and about a quarter provided no emergency contact information, because current rules don’t require it.
Problems resurfaced two weeks ago as a California beef processor announced it would recall nearly 850,000 pounds of ground beef due to salmonella fears this year. Fresno-based Beef Packers, Inc. is one of more than a dozen plants that sold meat to the National School Lunch Program, and DeLauro has called for its temporary closure while inspectors probe conditions there.
4 Indiana counties disaster areas
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA has designated Jackson, Jennings, Lawrence and Shelby counties in Indiana as primary natural disaster areas because of losses caused by severe flooding that occurred from Aug. 8, 2009, and continuing.
Farm operators in the counties listed also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those are: Bartholomew, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Rush, Brown, Hancock, Marion, Orange, Scott, Decatur, Jefferson, Martin, Ripley and Washington.
All of these were designated natural disaster areas Dec. 9, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.
Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for information on eligibility and application procedures. Additional information is available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov
Farm help for 16 Tenn. counties
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Phil Bredesen announced the USDA has approved his request for federal farm assistance for 16 Tennessee counties because of excessive rain and flooding that occurred in September and October.
The 16 counties designated as primary natural disaster areas include Bradley, Chester, Cumberland, Hamilton, Hardeman, Lauderdale, Macon, McMinn, McNairy, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, Shelby, Smith, Trousdale and Wilson. The designation makes farmers in these counties eligible to apply for assistance through their local Farm Service Agency.
Qualifying as secondary, adjoining disaster counties are Bledsoe, Cannon, Clay, Crockett, Davidson, DeKalb, Dyer, Fayette, Fentress, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Loudon, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Putnam, Roane, Rutherford, Sequatchie, Sumner, Tipton, Van Buren and White.
Last week, Bredesen requested a primary disaster designation for five more East and Middle Tennessee counties: Claiborne, Cocke, Rutherford, Sevier and Union.
TSU farm worker indicted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A co-worker of a Tennessee State University employee who was found stabbed and beaten to death on campus has been indicted on charges of first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery.
Jarrod M. Phillips was working as a temporary farm employee at TSU when 60-year-old poultry plant supervisor Nathaniel Adefope was found dead on Sept. 8. Police have said the 23-year-old Phillips received medical treatment for a cut to his hand on that same day and DNA evidence linked him to the body. He was arrested Sept. 22 and is in jail on $500,000 bond.
Phillips was previously convicted of robbing an East Nashville Dollar General. He was sentenced to four years but received probation.
Adefope was a native of Nigeria who earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in poultry science at TSU.
Iowa Lakes gets federal funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The USDA has awarded a $3,106,000 loan and a $1,807,000 grant to Iowa Lakes Regional Water in Spencer.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said the funds will help provide water and wastewater infrastructure to rural communities in northwestern Iowa. Officials say Iowa Lakes Regional Water will use the money to expand and improve the water system in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Palo Alto and Pocahontas counties.
The funds for Iowa Lakes Regional Water is streaming from the USDA’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. The program provides funding to develop water and waste disposal systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainage, in rural areas and towns with a population of 10,000 or fewer. |
| 12/16/2009 |
|
