Part 1 – Field Production
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•
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Water Quality Risks (45 pts.)
Sewage Treatment (25 pts.)
Animals/Wildlife/Livestock (55 pts.)
Manure Use (35 pts.)
– Option A: Raw
– Option B: Composted
– Option C: None
• Soils (20 pts.)
• Traceability (10 pts.)
• 190 Points Possible
Field Production: Water Management
• Water quality must be evaluated to reduce microbial risks in fresh produce.
• Currently there are no federal standards for irrigation water quality
• In the absence of a federal standard, the adoption of the EPA recreation water
quality standard is common in most states, including Arizona
• If water can be used to swim in, it can be used for irrigation
1-1 What is the source of irrigation water? (Pond, Stream, Well, Municipal, Other).
1-2 How are crops irrigated? (Flood, Drip, Sprinkler, Other).
1-3 Water Quality Risks
• A water quality assessment must be performed to determine the quality of water used
for irrigation purposes
• E. coli 0157:H7, Salmonella, Giardia, and Cyclospora outbreaks have been caused by
contaminated water
• However, for GHP/GAP, generic E. coli is used as an overall indicator of water quality
15 Points Document: Irrigation Water Log
Enteric Bacteria
Bacteria of the Intestines
Shigella
(Dysentery)
COLIFORM BACTERIA
Soil, Vegetation, Feces
Salmonella
(Illnesses)
Enterobacter
Fecal Coliforms: Greater Risk
(Infections)
E. coli
Pathogenic
E. coli
1-3 Water Quality and Testing
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Test for generic E. coli and request that the results be quantified.
Do NOT request an absence-or-presence test.
If only one sample is taken, it must be below 126 CFU/100 mL.
A specific commodity, buyer or location might require additional testing.
Water source
Testing frequency
Municipal water in US
At least 1x/year
Well water
At least 1x/year during production
Surface water
At least 3x/year
* Before use
* At peak use
* Close to harvest
15 Points Document: Irrigation Water Log
1-4 Water Quality Risks
Water used for chemical application or fertigation must be potable.
15 Points Document: Water Source Testing Log
Compost Teas
Background Bacteria in Compost Teas
9
8
7
Log10 CFU/Kg
6
E.coli
5
Salmonella/Shigella
4
Enterococcus
3
Pseudomonas
2
Lactic acid
1
0
Horse
Cow/Plant
products
Cow
Plants
products
Alpaca
Sheep
Background Bacteria in Compost Teas
9
8
7
Log10 CFU/Kg
6
5
E.coli
4
Salmonella/Shigella
3
Enterococcus
2
Pseudomonas
1
Lactic acid
0
Horse
Cow/Plant
products
Cow
Plants
products
Alpaca
Sheep
1-5 Water Quality Risks Continued….
Steps must be taken to protect irrigation water from potential direct and nonpoint source contamination
15 Points
1-6 Sewage Treatment
It is imperative to have a farm sewage treatment systems that function properly
where there is no evidence of leaking or runoff.
15 Points
1-7 Sewage Treatment
There is NO municipal/commercial sewage treatment facility or waste material
landfill adjacent to the farm
10 Points
1-8 Animals/Wildlife/Livestock
Crop production areas are not located near or adjacent to dairy, livestock, or
fowl production facilities unless adequate natural or physical barriers exist.
• Concentrated Feed Lot Operation, Manure Composting: 400 feet
• Grazing Lands and Homes with Septic Systems: 30 feet
• Untreated Manure & Irrigation Water: 200 feet
15 Points
1-9 Animals/Wildlife/Livestock
Manure located near or adjacent to crop production areas are maintained to
prevent leaking or overflowing, or measures have been taken to stop runoff from
contaminating the crop production areas
10 Points
1-10 Animals/Wildlife/Livestock
Manure stored near or adjacent to crop production areas is contained to prevent
contamination of crops
10 Points
1-11 Animals/Wildlife/Livestock
If surface water is used:
• Test at least three times per season, surface water
• Visually monitor source for animal intrusion risks
• Keep all domestic animals and livestock out of surface water irrigation sources
10 Points
1-12 Animals/Wildlife/Livestock
• Develop an SOP for scheduled surveys of the area surrounding fields for animal
intrusion:
• Contamination events upstream
• Annual bird migrations that may stop over in irrigation ponds
• Other feral animal activity
• Crop production areas are monitored for the presence or signs of wild or
domestic animals entering the land.
5 Points Record: Animal Presence Log
Are Traditional Ways of Production Compatible with Today’s Food Safety Standards?
Another Possible Solution…
• Identify and Isolate Animal Feces in Fields so Affected Produce is NOT Harvested
• Do NOT Harvest Produce Within a 5 Foot Radius of Observed Animal Feces
Name This Animal Intruder…
Front (F) & Hind (H) Feet
1"
Scat:
1 x 1.5 in
Track: Front: 2 x 1.5 in
Hind: 2 x 1.5 in
Movement Tracks
Javelina
Photo Courtesy of: George Andrejko - AZGFD
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Track: Blunt round tips. Two claws on front foot. One claw on hind foot.
Scat: Dry flora may be apparent in scat. Breaks down quickly in environment.
Fact: On warm days, active in early morning and late evening.
Nolte & Renick, 2012
1-13 Animals/Wildlife/Livestock
Measures are taken to reduce the opportunity for wild and/or domestic
animals from entering the crop production areas.
5 PointsRecord: Animal Presence Log
Rec 1-12
Rec 1-13
Three Options for the use of Manure
• Option A: Raw manure or a
combination of raw and composted
manure is used as a soil
amendment
• Option B: Only composted manure
is used as a soil amendment
• Option C: No manure of any kind is
used as a soil amendment
1-14 Option A: Raw Manure
• It is important to keep raw manure (manure that has not been fully composted
or heat-treated) off produce.
• When raw manure is applied, it is incorporated at least 2 weeks prior to planting
and a minimum of 120 days prior to harvest.
• Never apply raw manure (solid or liquid forms or animal bedding) once a fresh
produce crop has been planted. This includes manure-based compost teas.
10 Points Record: Raw Manure Applications Log
1-15 Raw Manure
Raw manure is NOT used on commodities that are harvested within 120 days of
planting.
10 Points Record: Raw Manure Applications Log
1-16 Raw/Composted Manure Mixtures
• If both raw and composted manure are used within the same farm, the
composted manure is properly composted and the fields are treated separately
• If used on the same field, the manure would be considered raw
10 Points Record: Composted /Treated Manure Log
1-17 Raw Manure
Regardless of the soil amendment, each farm should store raw manure properly.
5 Points
1-18 Option B: Composted Manure
A record must show that only composted manure is used when using this option
10 Points Record: Composted /Treated Manure Log
1-19 Composted Manure
If manure will be composted on the farm:
Passive: Composting uses natural aeration over long periods of time
(six months to two years). Test for Fecal Coliforms: <1000
CFU/gram
Active: Be certain to follow Certified Organic composting protocols.
• Manage piles to have active, uniform composting
• High temperatures, good moisture, proper aeration, and repeated
mixing or turning
• RECORD COMPOSTING CONDITIONS
• Obtain composting records if purchasing certified compost
USDA Organic Certified Compost Program:
Compost Piles: 130 F – 170 F for minimum of 3 days
Windrow Systems: 130 F – 170 F for 15 days minimum.
10 Points Document: Composted/Treated Manure Log
1-20 Composted Manure
• Composted manure are properly stored and are protected to minimize
recontamination.
• Animals are excluded from the compost area.
• Locate compost piles downhill and away from production fields to assure
that rain does not lead to run-off contamination of produce fields.
10 Points
1-21 Composted Manure
• Maintain records of composting protocols,
and analysis reports
• If compost is purchased from an off-farm
source, ask the supplier to provide compost
management protocols, and copies of
microbial test results
5 Points Record: Composted/Treated Manure Log
1-22 Option C: No Manure Used
No municipal biosolids or Manure is used
35 Points Procedure: Land Use History
1-23 Land Assessment
A basic land use risk assessment should be performed and documented in the files.
5 Points Record: Land Use History
1-24 Soils
When recent land use history indicates a possibility of contamination, soils
must be tested for microbial contamination.
10 Points Record: Land Use History
1-25 Land Risk Assessment
Crop production areas that have been subjected to flooding are tested for
potential microbial hazards.
5 Points Record: Land Use History
1-26 Traceability
• Record keeping is the foundation to a
traceability and recall system.
• Fields must be identified
• Workers documented
• Produce indicated by lot number
10 Points Record: Land Use History