Southern San Luis Obispo and Santa Southern San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara CountiesBarbara Counties

Agricultural Watershed CoalitionAgricultural Watershed Coalition

CCWGACCWGA

F&NGSBCCA

GSVA SBCFB

Grant through the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board administered by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Pathogens, Food Safety and RanchersPathogens, Food Safety and Ranchers– What is the impact of this issue on Ranchers?What is the impact of this issue on Ranchers?– Cut-the Crap Meeting – Cut-the Crap Meeting –

•Addressed Pathogen Loading to watershedsAddressed Pathogen Loading to watersheds•About 100 ranchers attendedAbout 100 ranchers attended•Presentations on Agwatershedcoalition.comPresentations on Agwatershedcoalition.com

outbreakstrain

E. colimost are beneficial

million or more per gram

Shiga-toxinE. coli

E. coli O157:H7

Fecal Coliform

Pathogens, Food Safety Pathogens, Food Safety and Ranchersand Ranchers

Spinach and E. coli•What do we know•What don’t we know

•Grazing Regulation•GAPs•RWQCB?•SWRCB?•Other Regulations?

Spinach/E. coli – What do Spinach/E. coli – What do we know? FDA Reportwe know? FDA Report

• 199 persons ill, 4 dead199 persons ill, 4 dead• 141 (71%) were female, 22 141 (71%) were female, 22

(11%) were < 5 yr old.(11%) were < 5 yr old.• Cases were in 26 StatesCases were in 26 States• Investigation narrowed to Investigation narrowed to

one field in Paicines near the one field in Paicines near the S. Benito River S. Benito River ((impairedimpaired))

• There were matching E. coli There were matching E. coli 0157:h7 DNA samples 0157:h7 DNA samples collected from: collected from: – Ill persons, Ill persons, – Spinach in ill consumers Spinach in ill consumers

homes,homes,– Environmental samples Environmental samples

near one fieldnear one field

Spinach/E. coli – What do we Spinach/E. coli – What do we know?know?

• River water, cattle feces, and River water, cattle feces, and wild pig feces all matchedwild pig feces all matched

• Closest confirmed sample was Closest confirmed sample was 1 mile from spinach field1 mile from spinach field

• Field was in 3-year organic Field was in 3-year organic transition (i.e. farmed transition (i.e. farmed organically; but sold as organically; but sold as conventional produce)conventional produce)

• FDA summary of Risk FactorsFDA summary of Risk Factors: : – Cattle grazing nearbyCattle grazing nearby– Pigs in nearby riparian bufferPigs in nearby riparian buffer– Irrigation wells near cattle and Irrigation wells near cattle and

pigspigs– GW used for irrigation down GW used for irrigation down

gradient in dry period and gradient in dry period and recharged by S. Benito Riverrecharged by S. Benito River

Spinach/E. coli –What Spinach/E. coli –What Don’tDon’t We We Know?Know?

• What was the source of What was the source of 0157?0157?

• How did 0157 move from How did 0157 move from point A to B to C?point A to B to C?

• How far can 0157 travel if How far can 0157 travel if airborne?airborne?

• If the 0157 was introduced If the 0157 was introduced by irrigation water, how did by irrigation water, how did it enter the water?it enter the water?

• How long will 0157:h7 live How long will 0157:h7 live in different environmentsin different environments– In cattle feces, under a cow In cattle feces, under a cow

piepie– In wildlife? On wildlife?In wildlife? On wildlife?– In Soil? Water? Air?In Soil? Water? Air?– In a pasture? In a veggie In a pasture? In a veggie

field?field?

Can cow-calf or other livestock Can cow-calf or other livestock contaminate water or nearby fields of contaminate water or nearby fields of fresh fruit or vegetables with fresh fruit or vegetables with E. coliE. coli

O157:H7? O157:H7? Multiple processes Multiple processes need to occur:need to occur:

• fecal (pathogen) fecal (pathogen) loadingloading

• transport to water or transport to water or through airthrough air

• survival or grow while survival or grow while in transportin transport

• must remain viable must remain viable until harvestuntil harvest

•How close is too How close is too close? close?

•Should there be Should there be a fence?a fence? •If so, how far If so, how far back to put a back to put a fence?fence?

•If not, how If not, how should fields be should fields be protected? protected?

If wildlife defecate in the field or organic amendmentsIf wildlife defecate in the field or organic amendments(manure) are not fully treated, then direct contamination(manure) are not fully treated, then direct contamination

RegulationRegulation

• Agriculture Agriculture – Marketing Agreement/Market OrderMarketing Agreement/Market Order– GAPsGAPs

• RWQCBRWQCB– Current PolicyCurrent Policy– Future Policy?Future Policy?

• SWRCBSWRCB– Rangeland ResolutionRangeland Resolution

• Other Agencies – What happens Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails?if Ag fails?

Marketing Marketing Agreement/OrderAgreement/Order• Western Growers’ Board of Directors voted unanimously Oct. 26, Western Growers’ Board of Directors voted unanimously Oct. 26,

2006 to pursue a California Marketing Agreement. This approach 2006 to pursue a California Marketing Agreement. This approach was certified by California Department of Food and Agriculture’s on was certified by California Department of Food and Agriculture’s on February 13, 2007. It is now known as the Leafy Greens Handler February 13, 2007. It is now known as the Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement.  Under this binding agreement a mass Marketing Agreement.  Under this binding agreement a mass quantity of leafy greens handlers have signed on representing quantity of leafy greens handlers have signed on representing approximately approximately 90+% of the leafy greens’ grown in California. 90+% of the leafy greens’ grown in California.

• The Marketing Agreement would The Marketing Agreement would require all signatory leafy greens require all signatory leafy greens handlers to only purchase product from growers who adhere to handlers to only purchase product from growers who adhere to newly developed Leafy Greens Good Agricultural Practices which newly developed Leafy Greens Good Agricultural Practices which were adopted by the Market Agreement Board in March 2007.were adopted by the Market Agreement Board in March 2007.

• Also on Oct. 26, 2006, Western Growers’ Board of Directors decided Also on Oct. 26, 2006, Western Growers’ Board of Directors decided that in addition to a marketing agreement, it was also in the that in addition to a marketing agreement, it was also in the industry’s best interest to pursue a industry’s best interest to pursue a California Marketing Order and a California Marketing Order and a mandatory federal regulatory approach to enhance food safety.mandatory federal regulatory approach to enhance food safety.

• Western Growers is now working with its industry partners, state Western Growers is now working with its industry partners, state agencies and regulatory bodies on the Marketing Order. The agencies and regulatory bodies on the Marketing Order. The specifics of the Marketing Order are still being worked out and will specifics of the Marketing Order are still being worked out and will be made available as soon as possible. be made available as soon as possible. Adoption is by vote which Adoption is by vote which requires 40% of growers w/ 60% of land or 60% of growers w/ 40% requires 40% of growers w/ 60% of land or 60% of growers w/ 40% of land.of land.

RegulationRegulation

• Agriculture Agriculture – Marketing Agreement/Market OrderMarketing Agreement/Market Order– GAPsGAPs

• RWQCBRWQCB– Current PolicyCurrent Policy– Future Policy?Future Policy?

• SWRCBSWRCB– Rangeland ResolutionRangeland Resolution

• Other Agencies – What happens Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails?if Ag fails?

RWQCBRWQCB

• Existing OptionsExisting Options::1)1) Waste Discharge RequirementsWaste Discharge Requirements

2)2) Conditional WaiverConditional Waiver

3)3) Conditional Basin Plan Prohibitions on a Conditional Basin Plan Prohibitions on a watershed basiswatershed basis

• Evaluating Region-wide Grazing Evaluating Region-wide Grazing RegsRegs

– Data AnalysisData Analysis– OutreachOutreach– Rancher Advisory BoardRancher Advisory Board– Review of Other regulatory approachesReview of Other regulatory approaches– Integration w/ existing regsIntegration w/ existing regs

RWQCB Timeline:RWQCB Timeline:

• Feb-AprilFeb-April: : – Meet with Cattleman’s Associations in Central Meet with Cattleman’s Associations in Central

Coast CountiesCoast Counties

• April-SeptApril-Sept: : – Establish stakeholder forum with selected Establish stakeholder forum with selected

representatives and Conduct Data and representatives and Conduct Data and Information Analyses Information Analyses

– Learn about regulatory options in other regions, Learn about regulatory options in other regions, statesstates

• Sept-March 2008Sept-March 2008: : – Review information from all of the aboveReview information from all of the above– Decide if region-wide regulations neededDecide if region-wide regulations needed

RWQCB is requesting input RWQCB is requesting input from Ranchers from Ranchers

• What management practices are in What management practices are in place?place?

• How best to have on-going dialogue How best to have on-going dialogue with landowners and agencieswith landowners and agencies– Advisory Committee?Advisory Committee?– Email?Email?– Website?Website?

• Ideas for regulatory approachesIdeas for regulatory approaches

RegulationRegulation

• Agriculture Agriculture – Marketing Agreement/Market OrderMarketing Agreement/Market Order– GAPsGAPs

• RWQCBRWQCB– Current PolicyCurrent Policy– Future Policy?Future Policy?

• SWRCBSWRCB– Rangeland ResolutionRangeland Resolution

• Other Agencies – What happens Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails?if Ag fails?

What If There is Another What If There is Another E. coli 0157:h7 E. coli 0157:h7

Outbreak?Outbreak?• State Regulation – Senator Dean State Regulation – Senator Dean

FlorezFlorez

• Federal Regulation – Proposal to Federal Regulation – Proposal to consolidate all food regulation into consolidate all food regulation into mega-agencymega-agency

• RWQCB/SWRCB – both under RWQCB/SWRCB – both under pressure to address water qualitypressure to address water quality

What Can Central Coast Cattlemen What Can Central Coast Cattlemen Do?Do?

• Initiate discussion with RWQCB?Initiate discussion with RWQCB?

• Create their own Rangeland Create their own Rangeland Resolution?Resolution?

• Estimate impact of GAPs set-backs? Estimate impact of GAPs set-backs? Acreage/Animal units/$Acreage/Animal units/$

• Inform themselves?Inform themselves?

• Education the “trained individuals” Education the “trained individuals” that are hired to inspect fields?that are hired to inspect fields?

• What else?What else?

We are all

in this Togethe

r!