OSHA, Grain and Feed Association of Illinois, Illinois Grain Handling Safety Coalition work together to promote safe practices

CHICAGO - Five seconds. That is how quickly a worker can become engulfed in flowing grain and be unable to get out.

Sixty seconds. That is how quickly a worker can be completely submerged in flowing grain. More than half of all grain engulfments result in death by suffocation.

In 2010, at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments, the highest number on record. Among the deaths were two Illinois teens and a 49-year-old worker who had entered a grain bin "a million times."

In the past 50 years, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported with a fatality rate of 62 percent, according to researchers at Purdue University in Indiana.

Record death and injuries in 2010, led the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to reach out to the agricultural and grain handling industries to find ways to prevent deaths and injuries. OSHA also developed a Local Emphasis Program for Grain Handling Facilities focusing on the grain and feed industry's six major hazards. These include engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, "struck by," combustible dust explosions and electrocution hazards.

"OSHA is working hard to change the 'it won't happen to me' mindset," said Nick Walters, OSHA Regional Administrator for six Midwestern states. "Grain handling injuries and deaths can be prevented if employers follow proper safety procedures."

Suffocation can occur when a worker becomes buried by grain as they walk on moving grain or attempt to clear grain built up on the inside of a bin. Moving grain acts like "quicksand" and can bury a worker in seconds. "Bridged" grain and vertical piles of stored grain can also collapse unexpectedly if a worker stands on or near it. The behavior and weight of the grain make it extremely difficult for a worker to get out of it without assistance.

OSHA and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois have formed a state-wide alliance to get the word out on prevention. A grain bin entry permit has been developed to aid those working in and around bins to identify and control potential hazards.

"This alliance is an opportunity for OSHA to work together with the grain and agricultural industries and the agricultural community to train employers and workers about the unique hazards of the grain and feed industry," said Walters. "Through training, decals, brochures, websites, and other means of information communication, we will continue to work to improve awareness of these hazards and the safety and health of workers on Illinois farms and in grain handling facilities. We are committed to preventing the injuries and deaths that have been too frequent in the industry in recent years."

OSHA, the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois and the Illinois Grain Handling Safety Coalition have also developed a stop sign decal to adhere to grain bin doors using pictures and short phrases reminding entrants to lockout potentially hazardous equipment, stay clear of waist high grain, cover floor holes and to follow other best practices. Individuals or companies can email the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois at info@gfai.org to request the decal, which is pictured above.

OSHA has also published information related to common grain industry hazards and abatement methods, proper bin entry techniques, sweep auger use, and many other grain related topics at www.osha.gov/SLTC/grainhandling/index.html.  OSHA's Grain Bin LEP is used in 25 states.

In addition, the University of Illinois was awarded a U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration Susan Harwood Training Grant Program and has partnered with the Grain Handling Safety Coalition for the development of training materials and outreach to educate workers and employers on how to recognize, avoid and prevent safety and health hazards in grain bins.

The Grain Handling Safety Coalition can provide all the necessary training materials to train farmers, commercial grain handling employees, youth, rescue workers and more for free or at a very reduced rate. There are five different safety topics available including an overview of grain handling and storage safety, grain bin entry as well as entanglement, fall and confined space hazards. GHSC also offers "Train the Trainer" courses for companies and communities to have a local resource for training. More information is available at www.grainsafety.org .

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions exist for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov.  The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.

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Deadline pushed back due to delayed planting season as a result of the wettest spring on record

(DES MOINES) -  Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced that deadline for nominations for the 2013 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards has been pushed back to July 1, 2013. The previous deadline was June 15.

Iowa has experienced the wettest spring on record, which has significantly delayed planting. Just 92 percent of Iowa corn and 60 percent of Iowa soybean crops have been planted as of June 9^th.

"The record-setting wet weather this spring has significantly delayed planting and as a result farmers have understandably been focused on their fields, not award nominations," said Branstad. "Recognizing and encouraging farmers who have taken the lead in incorporating conservation practices into their operations is important to help reinforce their conservation ethic and encourage others to follow their lead."

The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award recognizes the efforts of Iowa's farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality. Farmers that are nominated should have made environmental stewardship a priority on their farm and adopted best management practices throughout their farming operation.

"Iowa farmers take their role seriously in preserving our precious natural resources, and we look forward to hearing these stories," said Reynolds. "We are proud to hold up these farmers as examples of environmental stewardship and highlight their practices for others to follow."

Nomination forms can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under "Hot Topics.

The award is a joint effort between the Governor, Lt. Governor, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources and it seeks to recognize the exemplary voluntary actions of farmers that improve or protect the environment and natural resources of our state while also encouraging other farmers to follow in their footsteps by building success upon success.

An appointed committee of representatives from both conservation and agricultural groups will review the nominations and select the winners.

The recipients will be recognized at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 15 at the Penningroth Center.  A lunch for award winners sponsored by Hagie will follow at the Farm Bureau shelter house on the fairgrounds.

The award was created in 2012 and 67 Iowa farm families were recognized during the inaugural award ceremony at the Iowa State Fair.  Winners receive a certificate as well as a yard sign donated by Monsanto.

"The bill that cleared the Senate tonight is a step in the right direction.  Having responsible payment limits on the commodity program is crucial to the defensibility of the farm safety-net.  We need payment caps on our commodity programs, and we need to close loopholes that have allowed non-farmers to game the system.  I hope the House takes notice at the reforms in the Senate-passed bill and sees the positive changes we made to the farm payment system.

"And, while the inclusion of my payment limits plan is very reform-minded, the target price program that is included in the final bill will take us back a step.  Target prices distort planting decisions, and I hear opposition to it from Iowa farmers all the time.  We've tried it before and it doesn't work.

"While I continue to have concerns about the potential impacts of the shallow loss and target price programs created in this farm bill, I would also agree with the overwhelming sentiment from Iowa farmers that they need to have certainty.  A five-year farm bill that includes my payment limit reforms, maintains the crop insurance program, and streamlines conservation programs gives that certainty."

Background information:

Grassley has long sought reform of the farm payment system.  His provisions that were included in the bill are nearly identical to legislation he introduced earlier this year that would place a hard cap on the farm payments an individual farmer can receive in a year and close long-abused and well-documented loopholes in the farm payment program.   The legislation would establish a per farm cap of $50,000 on all commodity program benefits, except those associated with the marketing loan program (loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains), which would be capped at $75,000.  Thus the combined limit would be $125,000, or, for married couples, $250,000.  The $50,000 cap would apply to whatever type of program is developed as part of the new Farm Bill. The bill also closes loopholes that currently allow non-farmers to qualify for federal farm payments and would allow one off-farm manager, but only one.

Follow up to May 7 letter to USDA, USTR

WASHINGTON - JUNE 6, 2013 - Senator Chuck Grassley is asking the nominee to be the next U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Froman, for his thoughts on making it a higher priority when negotiating with U.S. trading partners to resolve the regulatory barriers facing biotech seeds.

Grassley's written questions are a follow-up to a letter he wrote with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and 24 other senators about the need for the administration to engage U.S. trading partners in high-level discussions on breaking down barriers to biotechnology.  Grassley was not able to attend the entire nomination hearing in person, so he is asking his questions in writing to be answered for the hearing record.

"American farmers have adopted biotechnology seeds to increase production as they help feed this world.  They need to be able to get their products to market, and they need to have the confidence they can adopt the technology available to them without fear our trading partners will erect barriers," Grassley said.

Here is the text of Grassley's questions on the subject.

o   How does USTR intend to work with trading partners to improve market access for U.S. crops derived from biotechnology?

o   In regards specifically to the European Union, can you commit to me that if the United States and European Union move forward with a formal trade agreement negotiation, USTR will work to remove the regulatory barriers to U.S. biotechnology derived seeds?

Here is a copy of the text of the May 7 letter.  A signed copy of the letter can be found by clicking here.

May 7, 2013

Secretary Thomas Vilsack

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250

Ambassador Demetrios Marantis

Acting United States Trade Representative

600 17th Street NW

Washington, DC 20508

Dear Secretary Vilsack and Ambassador Marantis:

American agriculture has made significant advancements in the last 100 years. We have seen vast improvements in how farmers grow crops, raise livestock, manage risk, and conduct their operations. American farmers are constantly looking for new tools to maximize efficiencies and productivity.  Biotechnology has been one of these tools.  Biotechnology helps farmers better manage droughts, pests, and weeds with fewer resources.  Biotechnology provides a major boost to American farmers that face an increasingly competitive international market.  Biotechnology has also helped feed a growing world population with abundant, nutrient rich crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that as much as 90 percent of commodity crop acres utilize seeds improved through modern biotechnology. Trade disruptions caused by barriers to biotechnology derived crops hurt both American farmers and the international customers they serve. Regulatory asynchrony, zero tolerance policies, and re-registration requirements are among the most prevalent and costly regulatory hurdles.

We know and appreciate how both of you and your offices have given priority to these international regulatory challenges, and work extensively with our trading partners to find long term solutions.  For instance, USDA has been engaged in efforts to launch a pilot project with China which aims to address, bilaterally, some asynchrony issues.  We also understand that the U.S. government is engaging trading partners in multilateral efforts to discuss how to best address other critical issues, including unintended low-level presence.

Given the widespread adoption of biotechnology by American farmers, it is imperative you further raise the priority of these regulatory issues in discussions with our trading partners, emphasizing the importance of facilitating robust international trade.  We appreciate your attention to this important matter, and we look forward to working with you to address these important and complex issues.