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Program trains producers for emergencies, PR duty

 
By SUSAN BLOWER
Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — When Matt and Tracy Roberts faced a fire in their cattle barn, they didn’t have an emergency plan in place.
“No one knew what to do. We got a bigger picture of why it’s important to have an emergency plan,” said Tracy Roberts, owner of a contract feed lot in Wawaka. “We are trying to get more producers certified in our area.”
They were one of 10 newly certified livestock producers recognized at a ceremony in the Normandy Barn at the Indiana State Fair last week. To become certified in the livestock program by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), farmers attend a workshop, develop emergency and biosecurity plans and complete online training on industry standards.
It is open to all livestock, poultry and aquaculture producers. “When it comes to foAod safety, there is nothing better than a program like this to demonstrate animal wellness. It also supports biosecurity ... and having good relationships with neighbors,” said Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann.
She noted Indiana is host to more than 17,000 beef producers alone. Since 2008, 109 farmers have completed the certification requirements, and another 40 are in the process.
“Since it’s a voluntary program, it can at times be a challenge to get producers to see the value in doing all the work required to develop biosecurity and emergency plans. However, thinking through those ‘what if’ scenarios will pay off if there is a manure spill, a fire, an animal health emergency, a sudden death of a key person on the farm, et cetera,” said Kimmi Devaney, livestock program manager for ISDA.
Rob Ewing, a sheep and goat farmer in Greensburg, said his certification shows he has integrity in his farm practices. In the workshop, participants review environmental procedures, food safety, biosecurity, emergency plans and community relations.
Another participant, Keegan Poe, at first just wanted to support the ISDA program, but he now sees his certification as a valuable tool. “It makes you realize what you need to be doing on the farm. We will use it as a marketing tool in our freezer beef, pork and lamb business,” Powell said.
This year, ISDA partnered with industry organizations such as Farm Credit Mid-America, Indiana Farm Bureau and the Indiana Aquaculture Assoc. Where there is interest, workshops are given throughout the state.
Devaney said there is no fee for the certification.
“The only cost is their time and if they choose to make physical improvements to their farm,” she said.
“Since joining ISDA a year-and-a-half ago, I’ve added the PR component to help producers more effectively share their farm stories with their communities and the general public. I always get great feedback from producers on this part of the training and many ask for additional assistance in developing their outreach plans.”
Doug Abney, a beef producer in Bargersville, said the certification program was helpful in several ways.
“When we sell at farmers’ markets, we get a lot of questions about how we raise cattle and what we feed them. This certification will help us with the public because not everyone has it. The emergency plan is just common sense, but the program forces you to sit down and do it. My family wouldn’t have known what to do if I was incapacitated,” he said.
Abney further is concerned over potential conflicts arising out of suburban sprawl from Indianapolis. “This certification shows that I have gone above and beyond what the law requires.”
Conflict between urban and farm interests can be helped by the livestock certification program, said Ted McKinney, ISDA director. “The public, county commissioners and the mayor can see that we’ve gone to the nth degree to certify farms and put emergency plans in place. I’m bullish on this program,” he said.
Application can be found on ISDA’s website at www.in.gov/isda and click on “livestock.” More details are available from Devaney by email at KDevaney@isda.in.gov or phone 317-232-8770.
Other new certified livestock producers, and their towns, are: Dorothy Lecher, Greensburg; Jim Verkamp, St. Anthony; Farbest Foods, Bicknell; Chris Reeves, Griffin; Todd Runhebohn, Greensburg; and Greg Schneider, Madison.
8/27/2015