Farm Assessment I - Cornell University · Good Agricultural Practices Practices Requiring Attention Grower Self Assessment of Food Safety Risks Irrigation and Spray Water Quality—1

Food Safety Begins on the Farm: A Grower Self Assessment of Food Safety Risks

WATER USE

Water Use

Water can carry pathogens andcontaminated water can causeillness. In 2000, an outbreakof illness in British Columbia,Canada was traced back to afarm well water source thathad been contaminated by anon-farm sewage system. Thiswell water was used to irri-gate spinach, and that spinachcaused illness in consumers.Using potable water for as

many produce operations as possible is the best way to reduce risksof microbial contamination. Using municipal or well water sourcesis often not feasible due to field location and size. Surface water isthe most common source for irrigation on fruit and vegetable farms.Working with local watershed committees to better understandwatershed issues and concerns can promote stewardship of thesewaterways and improve surface water quality for all farms in thearea.

Regardless of the water source, testing and keeping water testrecords is an important good agricultural practice. Municipal watertest results can be requested from local municipalities or healthdepartments. Well water should be tested yearly especially if it isthe source of farm drinking water. Surface water testing presents abigger challenge. The levels of microbial pathogens in surfacewater can vary with many factors, including time of year, upstreamwatershed activities, climatic events, turbidity of the water, andflow rates. A sample taken at one time does not represent the entireseason’s microbial water quality, so testing is recommend multipletimes throughout the growing season. Multiple tests will allow youto identify the average microbial quality of the surface water youare using. If a particular water test is markedly higher than theaverage baseline, you should attempt to determine the cause and

Water Use

make modifications to your irrigation practices to reduce the risks.Testing surface water for E.coli as an indicator of fecal contamina-tion is highly recommended. This method is not fool proof butcurrently is the best indicator. And remember, always keep watertest records on file.

The type of irrigation method utilized also affects the risk. Thebest method to minimize risk is to use drip irrigation. This methodminimizes the risk of crop contamination because the edible partsof most crops are not wetted directly. Plant disease levels may alsobe reduced and water use efficiency maximized with this irrigationmethod. If applying overhead irrigation, morning is the best timebecause it maximizes water use efficiency and reduces leaf dryingtime. Rapid drying and ultraviolet light will reduce survival of bothplant and human pathogens on crops.

Water disinfection is also an important consideration for imple-menting an effective good agricultural practices program. Ifcontamination occurs during production, it can be amplified incooling and wash tanks by spreading contamination from one pieceto all the others. Effectively disinfecting wash and cooling waterwill prevent this problem. There are many commercially availabledisinfectants to use, so contact your local extension service or otheragricultural consultants to determine which system is best for yourcommodities and operation and is most affordable.

Water is a critical component in the production of fruits andvegetables. Its proper use is also critical in preventing contamina-tion of produce crops. Only use potable water in post harvestactivities and be aware of the risks associated with the use ofsurface water. The need to utilize surface water is recognized andimplementation of GAPs can reduce the existing risks.

Dealing with food safety issues related to water use are com-plex. To facilitate review, this section is broken into two separateworksheets: Irrigation and Spray Water Quality and On-FarmWells. Please complete all sections applicable to the water usepractices on your farm.

WATER USE

Good Agricultural Practices Practices Requiring Attention

Grower Self Assessment of Food Safety Risks Irrigation and Spray Water Quality—1

Irrigation and Spray Water Quality

tnemeganaMaerA

tseBecitcarP

stnemtsujdAroniMdedeeN

;tsixEsnrecnoCecitcarPenimaxE

:tnemevorpmIsdeeNereHsegnahCezitiroirP

retawnoitagirrifoecruoSsporcecudorprof

amorfsiretawnoitagirrIretawdetaert,lapicinum

retawdnuorgmorfroecruosylreporpamorfdeniatbo

ni,llewdeppac,detcurtsnocdluoctaht,noitidnocdoog

rotacidnifidetaertylidaerebnidetcetederewsmsinagro

.stsetretawlaunna

decruossiretawnoitagirrI.llewdeppacnunamorf

nwardsiretawnoitagirrIecruosretawecafrusamorf

stifoegdelwonkonhtiw.ytilauqlaiborcim

decruossiretawnoitagirrIretawrehtorodnopamorf

stisivyliadsahtahtecruosslaminadliwrokcotsevilyb

RO tuobanwonksielttil.ecruosretawnoitagirri

lacipotrofretawfoecruoSsyarps

amorfsiretawyarpSretawdetaert,lapicinum

retawdnuorgmorfroecruosylreporpamorfdeniatbo

ni,llewdeppac,detcurtsnocdluoctaht,noitidnocdoog

rotacidnifidetaertylidaerebnidetcetederewsmsinagro

.stsetretawlaunna

morfdecruossiretawyarpS.llewdeppacnuna

amorfnwardsiretawyarpShtiwecruosretawecafrus

stifoegdelwonkon.ytilauqlaiborcim

morfdecruossiretawyarpSretawrehtorodnopa

stisivyliadsahtahtecruosslaminadliwrokcotsevilyb

RO ehttuobanwonksielttil.ecruosretaw

eeS.gnitseTretaW retaWesU eromrofnoitcudortni

snoitadnemmocercificeps

detseterasecruosretawllAhcussmsinagrorotcidnirofsmrofiloctnarelotomrehtsa

iloc.Ecirenegdna DNAnotpekerasdrocereseht

.elif

detseterasecruosretawllATUB tonerasdrocer

.deniatniam

dnagnihsawrofdesuretaWdetsetsiecudorpgnilooc

TUB rofdesuretawecafrusoN.detsettonsinoitagirri

.tpekerasdrocer

dnaenoderastsetretawoNtegotedamsitpmettaon

morfstlusertsetretawretawoN.seitilapicinum

.tpekerasdrocer✍




tnemeganaMaerA

tseBecitcarP




dehsretawfossenerawAsnrecnoc

fostroffednasgnidnifehTseettimmocdehsretawlacol

nwonkoslasitI.nwonkera,wolamorfnwardsiretawfi

ytiroirphgihromuidem.dehsretaw

seussidehsretawlareneGcificepstubnwonkera

retawecafrushtiwsnrecnocrotacidnignidulcni,ytilauq.nwonktonera,smsinagro

retawrodehsretawlaitnetoPtceffatahtsnrecnocytilauq

mrafehtnoretawecafrus.nwonknuera

tnemidesfognirotinoMretawecafrusnislevel

noitagirrirofdesu

rofdesutonsiretaWsiretawnehwnoitagirri.)ytidibruthgih(yduolc

otdesuerasdnopgniltteSfotnetnoctnemidesecuder

otroirpretawnoitagirri.sporcotnoitacilppa

.tpekerasdroceR

derotinomsiytidibrutretaWdnanoitagirriotroirp

yamretawyllanoisacconehwytidibruthgihaevah

sdroceR.noitagirrirofnward.tpekera

ecudorpotdeilpparetaWrodibrutnetfosisporc

.yduolc

rotinomotedamsitroffeoNretawecafrusfoytidibruteht

otronoitacilppaotroirpfotnetnoctnemidesecuder

otroirpretawnoitagirri.sporcotnoitacilppa

dohtemnoitagirrI nodesusinoitagirripirDsporcecudorp RO worruf

onhtiwdesusinoitagirri.gnittewtnalp

noitagirridoolfrodaehrevOsitahtretawdnuorghtiw

morfeerfebotnwonkllanodesusisnegohtap

.sporcecudorp

noitagirridoolfrodaehrevOamorfdecruossiretaw

ecruosmorfretawecafrusmaertspunwonkonhtiw

.stniopnoitanimatnoc

noitagirridoolfrodaehrevOsitahtretawecafrushtiw

maertspuevahotnwonkytilauqtceffatahtsecitcarpsksirlaiborcimesaercnidna

.retawot

noitneverpwolfkcaB evlavkcehcrowolfkcab-itnAllanodellatsnierasecived

ondna,smetsysgnibmulptsixesnoitcennocssorc.seilppusretawneewteb

erasecivedwolfkcab-itnAstecuafemosnodellatsniriA.snoitcennocesohhtiw

.deniatniameraspag

secivedwolfkcab-itnaoNssorcdnadellatsniera

.ruccoyamsnoitcennoc

✍




tnemeganaMaerA

tseBecitcarP




stnemssessa-flesfoesUtsyS-A-mraF.g.e( 1 ro)

ecuderotstnatlusnoclatnemnorivneevitagen

gnimraffostcapmisecitcarp

mraffotnemssessanAsahstcapmilatnemnorivne

dnadetcudnocneebotedamneebevahsegnahcksirecuderotsecitcarpmraf

dnatnemevomerunamforosdleifmorfnoisorelios

retawotnisdraynraberasdroceresehT.sesruoc

.elifno

fotnemssessanAsahstcapmilatnemnorivne

melborpyfitnedideplehdna,mrafehtnosaera

gniebyltnerrucerastroffeerunamecuderotedam

noisoreliosdnatnemevomotnisdraynrabrosdleifmorf

esehT.sesruocretaw.elifnoerasdrocer

mraffotnemssessanAsahytilauqretawnostcapmi

nosaeramelborpdeifitnedisegnahcontub,mrafeht

sserddaotedamgniebera.smelborpeseht

onneebsaherehTytilauqretawfotnemssessa

mraftnerrucfostcapmi.secitcarptnemeganam

1. Please see Farm-A-Syst web site for additional information: http://www.wisc.edu/farmasyst/.

✍

Source of irrigation water forproduce crops

Irrigation and Spray Water Quality Action Plan

ManagementAction for Person Estimated TargetArea

Improvement Responsible Cost Date

Date: __________________ Reviewer: _____________________________________ Field or Commodity: _______________________________

Pri

ori

tize

Ch

ang

es H

ere

Co

nce

rns

Exi

st

Min

or

Ad

just

men

t

Bes

tP

ract

ice

Your Plans to Reduce Risks

Source of water for topicalsprays

Awareness of watershedconcerns

Monitoring of sedimentlevels in surface waterused for irrigation

Do not remove. Photocopy this master for evaluations. Irrigation and Spray Water Quality Action Plan—1 of 2

Water TestingSee Water Use introduction formore specific recommendations

Backflow prevention

Use of self-assessments (e.g.Farm-A-Syst1) or consultants toreduce negative environmentalimpacts of farming practices





Pri

ori

tize

Ch

ang

es H

ere

Co

nce

rns

Exi

st

Min

or

Ad

just

men

t

Bes

tP

ract

ice


Do not remove. Photocopy this master for evaluations. Irrigation and Spray Water Quality Action Plan—2 of 2

1. Please see Farm-A-Syst web site for additional information: http://www.wisc.edu/farmasyst/.

Irrigation method


On-Farm Wells

Grower Self Assessment of Food Safety Risks On-Farm Wells—1

tnemeganaMaerA

tseBecitcarP




dnagnisacfonoitidnoC)laes(pacllew

roselohonsahgnisaclleWylthgitsipaC.skcarc

nisitnevdeneercS.deruceseromsithgiehgnisaC.ecalptuorG.edargevoba"21naht

gnisacneewtebstsixelaes.liosdna

gnisacllewnistcefedoNsipacdnaelbisivera

tub,detnevsilleW.derucesthgiehgnisaC.deneercston.edargevobasehcni21–8si

neewtebstsixelaestuorG.liosdnagnisac

eraskcarcroselohoNsipaC.gnisacllewnielbisiv

sselsithgiehgnisaC.esool.edargevobasehcni8naht

stsixelaestuorgoN.liosdnagnisacneewteb

elbisiveraskcarcroseloHesoolsipaC.gnisacllewni

fodnuosehtdnagnissimro.draehebnacretawgninnurtipni,edargwolebsignisaC

.rallecro

htpedgnisaclleWdednemmoceryfireV(

lacolruoyhtiwshtped)tnemtrapedhtlaeh

teef52nahtretaergdesaC.kcordebotnisdnetxedna

otnitontubteef52desaC.kcordeb

.teef52–01desaC .teef01nahtsseldesaC

ecnanetniamdnanoitacoLsmetsyscitpesmraf-nofo

smetsysreweslapicinuM.mrafehtevres

metsyscitpesmraf-noehT,yletairporppadezissidepmupdnadetcepsni

ehtdna,sraey3–2yrevedetacoltonsidleifhcael

retawgniknirdmrafehtraen.tpekerasdroceR.llew

metsyscitpesmraf-noehTdetcepsnirodepmuptonsidleifhcaelehttub,ylraluger

mrafehtraendetacoltonsi.llewretawgniknird

simetsyscitpesehTresuehtrofdezisrednu

ro,ezismrafdnarebmunsidleifhcaelcitpeseht

.llewehtraendetacol

✍


On-Farm Wells

Grower Self Assessment of Food Safety Risks On-Farm Wells—2

tnemeganaMaerA

tseBecitcarP




noitalernillewfonoitisoPnoitanimatnoclaitnetopot

secruos

llamorfepolspusilleWsecruosnoitulloplaitnetop

edicitseprorezilitref.g.e(,saeragnildnahdnaegarots

hcaelcitpes,sdraykcotsevilleuf,seliperunam,sdleif

retawecafrusoN.)segarotsecafruS.llewsehcaerffonur.llewmorfdetrevidsiretaw

taromorfepolspusilleWnoitulloplaitnetophtiwedarg

retawecafrusoN.secruos.llewsehcaerffonur

morfepolsnwodsilleWnoitulloplaitnetopemos

ecafrusemoS.secruos.llewhcaeryamffonurretaw

raennoisserpedrognitliS.elbisivsignisacllew

kcotsevilmorfffonurecafruSnoitulloprehtorodray.llewsehcaersecruos

dnallewneewtebecnatsiDfosecruoslaitnetop

noitanimatnoc

ynamorfteef003nahteroM.ecruosnoitanimatnoc

amorfteef003–051.ecruosnoitanimatnoc

amorfteef051–57.ecruosnoitanimatnoc

amorfteef57nahtsseL.ecruosnoitanimatnoc

noitneverpwolfkcaB evlavkcehcrowolfkcab-itnAllanodellatsnierasecived

ondna,smetsysgnibmulptsixesnoitcennocssorc.seilppusretawneewteb

erasecivedwolfkcab-itnAstecuafemosnodellatsniriA.snoitcennocesohhtiw

.deniatniameraspag

secivedwolfkcab-itnaoNssorcdnadellatsniera

.ruccoyamsnoitcennoc

foytilauqretawgnitseTsllewmraf-no

detsetsiytilauqretaWdna,stneirtunrof,yllaunna

laiborcimdnalacimehcllafosdroceR.stnanimatnoc

.elifnoerastsetretawyrotsihonneebsaherehTnoitanimatnoclaiborcimfo

.llewehtfo

detsetsiytilauqretaW,stneirtunrof,yllaunnaib

dnastnanimatnoclacimehc.snegohtaplaiborcim

stsetretawllafosdroceR.elifnoera

sillewehtfoytilauqretaW.sraey3yrevedetset.tpekebyamsdroceR

sillewehtfoytilauqretaW,yllanoisaccoylnodetset

.eludehcsatuohtiw.tpektonerasdroceR

✍

On-Farm Wells Action Plan

Condition of casing and well cap(seal)




Pri

ori

tize

Ch

ang

es H

ere

Co

nce

rns

Exi

st

Min

or

Ad

just

men

t

Bes

tP

ract

ice


Well casing depth(Verify recommended depths withyour local health department)

Location and maintenance of on-farm septic systems

Position of well in relation topotential contamination sources

Distance between well andpotential sources ofcontamination

Do not remove. Photocopy this master for evaluations. On-Farm Wells Action Plan—1 of 2

On-Farm Wells Action Plan




Pri

ori

tize

Ch

ang

es H

ere

Co

nce

rns

Exi

st

Min

or

Ad

just

men

t

Bes

tP

ract

ice


Backflow prevention

Testing water quality of on-farmwells

Do not remove. Photocopy this master for evaluations. On-Farm Wells Action Plan—2 of 2

Documents

Farm Assessment I - Cornell University · Good Agricultural Practices Practices Requiring Attention Grower Self Assessment of Food Safety Risks Irrigation and Spray Water Quality—1