By KEVIN WALKER
Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Jennifer Granholm has declared April Agricultural Security Month in Michigan to highlight the importance of protecting the state’s agricultural and food systems, and the vital role farmers play in this effort.

“Protecting Michigan’s agribusiness sector is a crucial part of ensuring the industry’s ability to generate jobs and revenue for the state’s economy,” Granholm said. “We need to work together to preserve Michigan agriculture in order to continue to enjoy our abundant food supply.”

Ag is considered the second largest industry in the state, with 55,000 farmers producing more than 200 different commodities. State officials are highlighting various challenges that producers face, especially the theft of anhydrous ammonia, a key ingredient in the production of methamphetamine. Other challenges, potential and immediate, include bovine tuberculosis, avian influenza, soybean rust and intentional contamination.

“The theft of anhydrous ammonia continues to be an issue of great concern in the agriculture sector,” said Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto in a news release.

“Anhydrous ammonia, a low cost form of nitrogen fertilizer, is a key ingredient in the illegal production of the drug methamphetamine. The agriculture industry and government share a responsibility to work together to strengthen our nation’s security.”

Last year the Michigan Agriculture Commission approved Anhydrous Ammonia Safety and Security Practices (AASSPS). When sellers and users follow the AASSPS, they are granted immunity from personal injury and property damage claims caused by anhydrous ammonia theft or its unlawful use.

Brad Deacon, the MDA’s Emergency Management Coordinator, said agribusiness pushed for these guidelines because it was concerned about the potential for lawsuits from thieves who might get hurt while stealing anhydrous ammonia or handling it, or from families of thieves who get hurt or killed.

“The benefit of the AASSPS, aside from added security, is nuisance lawsuit protection,” Deacon said.

State officials also want to highlight the “Be Aware, Be Prepared” campaign the state launched in 2005.

This was a collaboration among the MDA, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan State University extension and the Michigan Milk Producers Assoc.

Originally, the state made 5,000 orange placards with emergency telephone numbers and gave them out to dairy farmers. The 8-by-10-inches placards were extremely popular.

Early last year, the state found money to produce another 12,500 placards. About 10,000 of those have been given away already, distributed to a wide range of producers.

This campaign cites several examples of ag-related emergencies that have happened recently in Michigan. More than 30 feeder calves died and many others became sick when the valve on a nearby anhydrous ammonia tank was left open by a thief attempting to steal it to make methamphetamine.

In another example, in 2005 more than 70 calves were stolen from Elsie, Mich.-area dairy farms in Clinton County.

Going further back, in 1996 a disgruntled worker dumped chlordane in beef fat, which was subsequently used in feed sent to more than 4,000 farms in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois. More than 4,000 tons of feed and 500,000 pounds of fat had to be destroyed. The loss was estimated at $4 million.

According to the “Be Aware, Be Prepared” literature, the purpose of the campaign is “not to make us feel less secure, but to encourage us all to be more aware, take action to help prevent hazards and be better prepared to deal with any hazard should one occur.”
The state also provides a telephone number to report suspicious people or activity near anhydrous ammonia tanks. The toll free number is 866-METH-TIP (638-4847).

This farm news was published in the April 23, 2008 issue of the Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.