Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Urges Farmers to Take Precautions During Hurricane Season

With the threat of hurricanes and tropical storms at a peak in early September, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff today urged farmers to prepare for the potential of heavy rain, flooding and wind damage as a result of adverse weather.

"Hurricanes and tropical storms can have devastating effects on agriculture," said Wolff. "Now is the time to prepare property against damage to help minimize losses and speed recovery time after the storm has passed."

Wolff offered the following preparedness tips to follow if a hurricane or tropical storm occurs:

Farm Operations

-- Relocate livestock and animals from low-lying flood prone areas.

-- Move machinery, feed, grain, pesticides, herbicides, round forage bales and nursery stock to higher elevation.

-- Check manure storage area to ensure there is sufficient capacity.

-- Ensure there is adequate water and feed stored for emergencies.

-- Check that generators have fuel and are in good repair.

-- Disconnect electrical power to all buildings that may flood.

Food Safety

-- Do not consume the following if they come in contact with floodwaters: unwrapped foods, crown-capped bottles, screw-top glass containers, flip top cans and packaged foods that are not airtight or that cannot be washed.

-- Throw out refrigerated food with a temperature above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Discard any food after six hours without power.

-- When in doubt, throw it out.

Wolff said producers participating in crop insurance plans who experience crop damage should notify a crop insurance agent within 72 hours of that discovery. All residue and crop damage should be left intact until agents can properly assess the extent of damage.

"Disaster can hit unexpectedly, and hurricane season serves as a reminder to farmers who still need to enroll in crop insurance before the Sept. 30 deadline," said Wolff. "With input costs at an all-time high, inclement weather can result in devastating losses. Farmers must be signed up for crop insurance to receive federal disaster assistance, helping ensure they can recover when disaster hits."

Producers who do not enroll in crop insurance for fall-planted crops, like winter wheat, oats, barley and forage, will not be protected under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, or SURE, for 2009. The more crop insurance coverage a producer has, the more the SURE guarantee will be.

Producers should contact their local crop insurance agent before Sept. 30 to purchase insurance or change existing policies. A list of agents can be found at www3.rma.usda.gov/apps/agents or by calling 717-705-9511.

Wolff said: "Pets are often overlooked in disaster situations. If a situation is not safe for people, it is not safe for animals."

Pet owners should contact a boarding kennel or pet shelter before adverse weather hits. Pennsylvania's State Animal Response Team (SART) facilitates a rapid, coordinated and effective response for any emergency affecting animals, including floods. In the case of an emergency, contact the county 911 office for notification of SART teams. Visit http://www.pasart.org for more information.

CONTACT: Nicole L. C. Bucher
(717) 787-5085