Farm Bureau Urges FDA to Enforce Milk Labeling Standards

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness, News

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is urging the Food and Drug Administration to vigorously enforce food standards regarding the labeling of dairy products and prohibit the misleading labeling of nut-based and plant-based food products as “milk.” “Products identified as almond milk, soy milk and similar items are not being held to the same FDA standards as milk and dairy products that come from healthy cows, yet they still benefit by using the term ‘milk’ on their packaging,” said PFB President Rick Ebert. “Through their packaging, labeling and location in the refrigerated dairy section, these imitation products directly compete with and are marketed as substitutes for beverage milk products. It’s time for FDA to enforce its existing rule and forbid imitation nut and …

Mad Cow Disease: BSE Case Found on Farm in Scotland

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness, News

A case of BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, has been detected on a farm in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, officials have revealed. A statement issued by Scottish authorities said “precautionary movement restrictions” had been put in place at the farm. Experts stressed it was a case of classical BSE, so posed no harm to human health. Investigations are underway to determine the origin of the disease, which has not been seen in Scotland in 10 years.   Read more here >>>

Silo Filling Safety

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness, News

Prepared by Dennis J. Murphy, Distinguished Professor, Pennsylvania State University   Few farming operations provide as many different opportunities for accidents to happen as filling the silo. High powered equipment, working in close quarters, and the potential of silo gas formation combine to produce numerous injury incidents throughout the late summer and fall. Read safety information here >>>

Department of Agriculture Urges Farmers to Protect Against Flood Damage

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness, News

From the July 2018 Farm Link newsletter… Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today urged farmers and pet owners, particularly in central Pennsylvania, to prepare for the potential of flooding due to recent heavy rains. “It is critical that Pennsylvanians protect their animals, property, and assets against flooding, and many steps can be taken now to prevent future damage,” Redding said. Redding offered the following tips to help agricultural producers minimize damage caused by floodwaters: Ensure manure storage area has sufficient capacity, as rains can add to depth. Relocate livestock and animals from low-lying, flood-prone areas. Move machinery, feed, grain, pesticides, herbicides, forage bales and nursery stock to higher elevation. Store enough livestock feed and water for 72 hours. Fill generators with …

Stand-Up For Grain Engulfment Prevention

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness

Suffocation from engulfment is a leading cause of death in grain bins. Engulfment is one of the leading types of fatalities inside a grain bin; however, there are numerous OSHA and industry resources available to assist in preventing future incidents. Stand-Up for Grain Engulfment Prevention is a way of reaching out to employers and workers to get them involved in improving worker protection, reducing injuries, and preventing fatalities from engulfment. Check out “What is a Safety Stand-Down” for more information.

Farm Bureau Calls for Clarity on Exemptions for Agricultural Haulers

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness

While again urging the Department of Transportation to grant agricultural haulers a waiver and limited exemption from the electronic logging device mandate, Farm Bureau in recent comments responded to the department’s efforts to provide clarity to the 150-air mile agricultural commodity exemption and the hours of service regulations. Read about the 150-air mile agricultural commodity exemption here>>>

Wisconsin Corn Milling Explosion Results in Fine

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness, News

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $1,837,861 in fines against Didion Milling Inc. following a May 31, 2017, explosion that killed five workers and injured 12 others, including a 21-year-old employee who suffered a double leg amputation after being crushed by a railcar. OSHA found that the explosion likely resulted from Didion’s failures to correct the leakage and accumulation of highly combustible grain dust throughout the facility and to properly maintain equipment to control ignition sources. OSHA cited Didion’s Cambria facility with 14 willful – including eight willful per-instance egregious– and five serious citations, most involving fire and explosion hazards. The company has been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program. “Didion Milling …

Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Zone Expanded

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness, News

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has expanded the quarantine zone, created to halt the spread of the invasive spotted lantern fly. With the latest expansion, the state has shifted to imposing quarantines at the county, rather than municipal, level and including areas where the insect’s presence has not yet been confirmed but there’s a high risk of spread. The quarantine area now covers 13 entire counties: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Carbon, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill. “This invasive insect threatens to destroy $18 billion worth of agricultural commodities here like apples, grapes and hardwoods, inflicting a devastating impact on the livelihoods of our producers and businesses,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. Businesses in the quarantine area …

Sallie Honored With Prestigious Barnraiser Award

Courtney MeyerAgribusiness

Louis R. Sallie, retired Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Administrative Secretary, has been honored with the Barnraiser Award, becoming only the 14th recipient of PFB’s most prestigious recognition in the organization’s 67-year history. Sallie, who retired this year, was recognized during the PFB’s 67th Annual Meeting. The award recognizes individuals who have spent a lifetime in dedicated leadership to the agricultural community. As administrative secretary, Sallie ran the day-to-day operations of PFB and was directly responsible for providing timely and critical information to the State Board of Directors. He worked with grassroots members to grow the organization into what it is today and greatly expanded efforts to educate the non-farming public about agriculture. “During his career with Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Lou was …