The USDA has eleased an agricultural security publication. This document includes checklists for agricultural operations with crops, chemicals, livestock, poultry, and dairy. It emphasizes the importance of security awareness, emergency planning, and general security issues.
These issues could also be called Best Management Safety Practices for the farm, in that they address all the old safety awareness tips like:
– keep chemicals in original containers and in a locked facility
– have an emergency operation plan
– post emergency phone numbers for fire, police, veterinarians, etc.
– maintain an inventory of fuel (diesel, gas, propane, acetylene, kerosene)
– properly train employees how to operate equipment/react in an emergency
To obtain a copy of the Pre-Harvest Safety Security Guide, producers can download them from the USDA Homeland Security Office webpage at: http://www.usda.gov/homelandsecurity/