Keep America’s Food and Agriculture Safe /Producers/fact
sheet
Producers
KEEP AMERICA'S FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SAFE (Fact Sheet)
You are on the front line of defense for protecting America’s food
and agriculture. Since Sept. 11, 2001, USDA has intensified work with federal,
state and local authorities to bolster protections for our food supply from the
farm to the table. Here are some ways you can help:
Plan Make a plan to manage risk. -- Anticipate risks to
your operation and minimize them. -- Identify areas or activities where
threats might occur and increase security in those areas. -- Consult with
experts when you are developing your plan. Include your veterinarian, crop
consultant, Extension agent, university scientist, and state Department of
Agriculture experts. -- Plan how you will respond to threats or tampering
with your animals, crops, equipment, chemicals, supplies, and energy and water
sources. -- Update your plan regularly. Make sure you have contact names
and telephone numbers. -- Include how you’ll notify appropriate local
law enforcement officials, as well as federal and state agriculture officials
in your plan.
Educate Train employees and customers. Screen potential
hires. -- Educate your employees and customers on how important it is to be
alert for signs of possible tampering with crops, livestock, supplies,
equipment, and facilities. -- Consider regular background checks on all
employees; check references. -- Develop a system to identify employees and
visitors; schedule arrivals and departures. -- Train all employees on
security. Include periodic refresher training.
Secure
Secure hazardous materials, energy and water
sources, and such production inputs as feed and nutrients. -- Maintain an
up-to-date inventory of hazardous materials. Investigate any discrepancies
immediately. -- Make sure that all storage areas for hazardous chemicals
and drugs are secured and reasonably isolated and that they are built and
vented according to national and state codes. -- Lock storage areas with
hazardous materials and drugs. Supervise staff with access to these materials.
-- Secure water wells or other water supplies, and identify alternative
water sources as backups. -- Monitor the security of feed and other
ingredients. -- Require ID’s. -- Schedule and monitor delivery service
and maintenance personnel. -- Ask your feed supplier to keep dated, labeled
(source) samples of each batch of animal feed for three months.
Monitor Prevent unauthorized entry or access to production
sites. -- Secure facility boundaries to prevent unauthorized access. Post
No Trespassing signs. -- Monitor your facilities for signs of suspicious
activity or unauthorized entry. -- Provide adequate outside lighting around
equipment buildings and other facilities. -- Consider using alarms, motion
detection lights, cameras or other appropriate security equipment in key areas.
Report Report any suspicious activity. -- Alert all
employees and family members to watch for sick animals or unusual changes in
the appearance of crops. -- Report any unusual animal or plant health
symptoms to local agriculture officials, including your veterinarian, crop
consultant, Extension personnel, or state Department of Agriculture personnel.
-- Make sure employees know how and where to report concerns or suspicious
activities. -- Encourage employees to report any suspicious activity or any
unauthorized personnel on or near the facility.
If you see anything suspicious, call your local officials. United
States Department of Agriculture September 2002
