Southern San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties Agricultural Watershed Coalition CCWGA F&NGSBCCA GSVASBCFB Grant through the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board administered by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Pathogens, Food Safety and Ranchers –What is the impact of this issue on Ranchers? –Cut-the Crap Meeting – Addressed Pathogen Loading to watersheds Addressed Pathogen Loading to watersheds About 100 ranchers attended About 100 ranchers attended Presentations on Agwatershedcoalition.com Presentations on Agwatershedcoalition.com

outbreak strain E. coli most are beneficial million or more per gram Shiga-toxin E. coli E. coli O157:H7 Fecal Coliform

Pathogens, Food Safety and 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 we know? FDA Report 199 persons ill, 4 dead 199 persons ill, 4 dead 141 (71%) were female, 22 (11%) were < 5 yr old. 141 (71%) were female, 22 (11%) were < 5 yr old. Cases were in 26 States Cases were in 26 States Investigation narrowed to one field in Paicines near the S. Benito River (impaired) Investigation narrowed to one field in Paicines near the S. Benito River (impaired) There were matching E. coli 0157:h7 DNA samples collected from: There were matching E. coli 0157:h7 DNA samples collected from: –Ill persons, –Spinach in ill consumers homes, –Environmental samples near one field

Spinach/E. coli – What do we know? River water, cattle feces, and wild pig feces all matched River water, cattle feces, and wild pig feces all matched Closest confirmed sample was 1 mile from spinach field Closest confirmed sample was 1 mile from spinach field Field was in 3-year organic transition (i.e. farmed organically; but sold as conventional produce) Field was in 3-year organic transition (i.e. farmed organically; but sold as conventional produce) FDA summary of Risk Factors: FDA summary of Risk Factors: –Cattle grazing nearby –Pigs in nearby riparian buffer –Irrigation wells near cattle and pigs –GW used for irrigation down gradient in dry period and recharged by S. Benito River

Spinach/E. coli –What Don’t We Know? What was the source of 0157? What was the source of 0157? How did 0157 move from point A to B to C? How did 0157 move from point A to B to C? How far can 0157 travel if airborne? How far can 0157 travel if airborne? If the 0157 was introduced by irrigation water, how did it enter the water? If the 0157 was introduced by irrigation water, how did it enter the water? How long will 0157:h7 live in different environments How long will 0157:h7 live in different environments –In cattle feces, under a cow pie –In wildlife? On wildlife? –In Soil? Water? Air? –In a pasture? In a veggie field?

Can cow-calf or other livestock contaminate water or nearby fields of fresh fruit or vegetables with E. coli O157:H7? Multiple processes need to occur: fecal (pathogen) loading fecal (pathogen) loading transport to water or through air transport to water or through air survival or grow while in transport survival or grow while in transport must remain viable until harvest must remain viable until harvest

How close is too close?How close is too close? Should there be a fence?Should there be a fence? If so, how far back to put a fence?If so, how far back to put a fence? If not, how should fields be protected?If not, how should fields be protected? If wildlife defecate in the field or organic amendments (manure) are not fully treated, then direct contamination

Regulation Agriculture Agriculture –Marketing Agreement/Market Order –GAPs RWQCB RWQCB –Current Policy –Future Policy? SWRCB SWRCB –Rangeland Resolution Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails? Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails?

Marketing Agreement/Order Western Growers’ Board of Directors voted unanimously Oct. 26, 2006 to pursue a California Marketing Agreement. This approach was certified by California Department of Food and Agriculture’s on February 13, It is now known as the Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement. Under this binding agreement a mass quantity of leafy greens handlers have signed on representing approximately 90+% of the leafy greens’ grown in California. Western Growers’ Board of Directors voted unanimously Oct. 26, 2006 to pursue a California Marketing Agreement. This approach was certified by California Department of Food and Agriculture’s on February 13, It is now known as the Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement. Under this binding agreement a mass quantity of leafy greens handlers have signed on representing approximately 90+% of the leafy greens’ grown in California. The Marketing Agreement would require all signatory leafy greens handlers to only purchase product from growers who adhere to newly developed Leafy Greens Good Agricultural Practices which were adopted by the Market Agreement Board in March The Marketing Agreement would require all signatory leafy greens handlers to only purchase product from growers who adhere to newly developed Leafy Greens Good Agricultural Practices which were adopted by the Market Agreement Board in March Also on Oct. 26, 2006, Western Growers’ Board of Directors decided that in addition to a marketing agreement, it was also in the industry’s best interest to pursue a California Marketing Order and a mandatory federal regulatory approach to enhance food safety. Also on Oct. 26, 2006, Western Growers’ Board of Directors decided that in addition to a marketing agreement, it was also in the industry’s best interest to pursue a California Marketing Order and a mandatory federal regulatory approach to enhance food safety. Western Growers is now working with its industry partners, state agencies and regulatory bodies on the Marketing Order. The specifics of the Marketing Order are still being worked out and will be made available as soon as possible. Adoption is by vote which requires 40% of growers w/ 60% of land or 60% of growers w/ 40% of land. Western Growers is now working with its industry partners, state agencies and regulatory bodies on the Marketing Order. The specifics of the Marketing Order are still being worked out and will be made available as soon as possible. Adoption is by vote which requires 40% of growers w/ 60% of land or 60% of growers w/ 40% of land.

Regulation Agriculture Agriculture –Marketing Agreement/Market Order –GAPs RWQCB RWQCB –Current Policy –Future Policy? SWRCB SWRCB –Rangeland Resolution Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails? Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails?

RWQCB Existing Options: Existing Options: 1)Waste Discharge Requirements 2)Conditional Waiver 3)Conditional Basin Plan Prohibitions on a watershed basis Evaluating Region-wide Grazing Regs Evaluating Region-wide Grazing Regs –Data Analysis –Outreach –Rancher Advisory Board –Review of Other regulatory approaches –Integration w/ existing regs

RWQCB Timeline: Feb-April: Feb-April: –Meet with Cattleman’s Associations in Central Coast Counties April-Sept: April-Sept: –Establish stakeholder forum with selected representatives and Conduct Data and Information Analyses –Learn about regulatory options in other regions, states Sept-March 2008: Sept-March 2008: –Review information from all of the above –Decide if region-wide regulations needed

RWQCB is requesting input from Ranchers What management practices are in place? What management practices are in place? How best to have on-going dialogue with landowners and agencies How best to have on-going dialogue with landowners and agencies –Advisory Committee? – ? –Website? Ideas for regulatory approaches Ideas for regulatory approaches

Regulation Agriculture Agriculture –Marketing Agreement/Market Order –GAPs RWQCB RWQCB –Current Policy –Future Policy? SWRCB SWRCB –Rangeland Resolution Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails? Other Agencies – What happens if Ag fails?

What If There is Another E. coli 0157:h7 Outbreak? State Regulation – Senator Dean Florez State Regulation – Senator Dean Florez Federal Regulation – Proposal to consolidate all food regulation into mega- agency Federal Regulation – Proposal to consolidate all food regulation into mega- agency RWQCB/SWRCB – both under pressure to address water quality RWQCB/SWRCB – both under pressure to address water quality

What Can Central Coast Cattlemen Do? Initiate discussion with RWQCB? Initiate discussion with RWQCB? Create their own Rangeland Resolution? Create their own Rangeland Resolution? Estimate impact of GAPs set-backs? Acreage/Animal units/$ Estimate impact of GAPs set-backs? Acreage/Animal units/$ Inform themselves? Inform themselves? Education the “trained individuals” that are hired to inspect fields? Education the “trained individuals” that are hired to inspect fields? What else? What else?

We are all in this Together!