4:16 p.m., Jan. 14, 2009----Sharing the same concerns as much of the general public in regards to food safety, energy costs, the environment and new technology, more than 1500 farmers, agriculture industry professionals, cooperative extension specialists, research scientists, and others came together to exchange information at the 2009 annual Delaware Agriculture Week held Jan. 5-10.

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The event, now in its fourth year, is a collaboration between the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

“Through the efforts of a number of individuals, particularly three of our Cooperative Extension professionals, Emmalea Ernest, James Adkins, and Cory Whaley, the fourth annual Delaware Ag Week was the most successful yet,” said David Hansen, UD's Cooperative Extension Ag Program leader and co-chair of the Ag Week planning team.

Food safety and fresh produce

With growing global concerns over the safety of fresh produces, with recent outbreaks of salmonella in spinach, tomatoes, and peppers, Delaware's fruit and vegetable growers spent much of their time at Delaware Agriculture Week discussing food safety for fresh produce.

Sue Snider, UD professor of food science and food safety specialist for Cooperative Extension, explained the intricacies of the reporting of food borne illnesses and how it can take months from the first onset of illness to finding the source of contamination.

“The process is like the CSI of food borne illnesses,” said Snyder. “There is an outbreak that must be confirmed by lab work. Then investigators can go out and start asking questions. Those questions lead through to determine a possible source. Environmental and track-back investigations have to support the theory.” She said this is one reason that many are crying out for a way to trace food products from grower to consumer.

Snider highlighted internationally-known UD research that uses non-thermal and high pressure processing techniques to make fresh produce and other ready-to-eat foods safer for consumers.

Kathy Means, vice president of government relations and public affairs for the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association, noted that in September 2008, a PMA consumer survey showed that consumers placed food safety as their third highest concern, behind energy costs and the economy and before the Iraq war and global warming.

“Consumers are interested in produce stories. When we hear about even very small, isolated instances of contamination, they are immediately linked to large outbreaks such as those in 2006 and 2008. Consumers are often overwhelmed with too much conflicting information and then just stay away from a particular produce item all together, even though their source may be safe,” Means said. “Spinach consumption has still not come back to the level it was before the outbreak in 2006.”

Chris Gunter, a guest speaker from North Carolina State University, encouraged farmers to implement good agricultural practices, known in the produce industry as GAPs, to ensure food safety on farms. Gunter recommended that producers have a written plan for addressing GAPs and food safety on the farm.

“Even one outbreak of food borne illness, even if not related to a local source or company, or if focused on one produce item, affects the entire industry and all of the hard work that our growers do to market fresh produce,” said Gunter.

Gordon Johnson, University of Delaware Kent County agricultural extension agent, said, “Food safety applies even to small growers and those who take their produce to local farmers markets. Consumers want to buy good, wholesome, fresh produce from their neighbors and it's the grower's responsibility to make sure this is done with food safety as a priority.”

Johnson and UD food safety specialists will be offering additional food safety training for produce growers in 2009.

Expanding new, local markets

While keeping foods safe, many farmers are looking for ways to both save money and market new products, due to growing economic concerns and the demand from consumers wanting local products.

“With the price of milk fluctuating, our dairy farm had to look for ways to add value when the price of milk was down,” said Holly Foster, owner of Chapel's Country Creamery in Easton, Md., and one of Wednesday's speakers.

The Fosters began making cheese three years ago to supplement the income to their dairy farm with assistance from a value-added producer grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. “We can't control the price of milk, but we can control the price of cheese, so it balances out in the end.”

Chapel's Country Creamery sells their cheese to local restaurants and stores, at local farmers markets, and ship to consumers all across the U.S.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency

Many local farms, including other creameries in the area, are also taking advantage of federal funding available to not only bring safe, local agricultural products to consumers, but to make their farms more energy efficient.

“Since 2004, the federal government has had millions of dollars in loans and grants available to farmers and small business owners interested in installing renewable energy technologies and providing energy efficient improvements at their operations,” said Bruce Weaver, a specialist with the USDA Rural Development Business and Community Program.

In 2008, $27.5 million in grants were provided to 639 individuals or small businesses throughout the U.S. including projects in Delaware and Maryland.

In 2009, $55 million will be competitively available, with projected increasing funding through 2012.

When asked what the outlook is for these funds with the current economic situation and a change in the presidency, Weaver said, “I don't see this program going away, as it is included in the Farm Bill. Energy issues will continue to be a priority even more so going forward in than in the past. I think that the money will be there.”

The environment

With such a focus on the link between the environment and agriculture, sessions also reviewed progress and plans for continued implementation of nutrient management regulations, research and outreach, with 2009 marking the tenth anniversary of the Delaware Nutrient Management Law.

Continued tension between the Delaware agricultural community and the Environmental Protection Agency has raised concerns over concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, and their relationship to water quality issues. “It is important at this time, more than ever, for farmers and the State to demonstrate our progress and be accountable,” said Bill Rohrer, administrator of the Delaware Nutrient Management Program.

Participants also heard from David Legates, University of Delaware professor of climatology and State Climatologist, about the Delaware Environmental Observing System, a system by which real-time, meteorological, hydrological, and oceanographic information is available to users throughout the state and region.

Farmers can use DEOS and its online services to observe real time weather data as well as historical data.

Legates said, “This system was really built for emergency management, but there are other users, such as those in the agricultural community, who can use this data.”

“With the variety of monitoring stations throughout the state and region, farmers can use this information to plan irrigation, planting, harvesting, and the application of fertilizers, pesticides, and more,” said Anna Stoops, New Castle County agriculture extension agent. “It can also help farmers to relate environmental events to success or failure of their crops.”

Article by Katy O'Connell