R. Precheur
The remnants from hurricane Isabel will pass by parts of
this region by late Friday and Saturday. Rainfall from this
storm may interrupt field operations and growers should pay
attention to local forecasts later in the week. The Navy
NOGAPS weather prediction model puts the center of the storm
on Saturday over the OH and PA border. The National Weather
Service's GFS model puts the storm moving through western PA
into NY state. At this point, mostly the eastern half of OH
will be affected by rain. Amounts will range from 0.25 to
0.5 inches in the center of the state to 1 to 2 inches in
eastern OH. Rainfall amounts will be greater in extreme
eastern OH into western PA.
By
The Ohio Specialty Crop Food Safety Initiative
(Initiative) is sponsoring its second Food Safety Workshop
on Thursday, November 20 in Columbus, Ohio at the Marriott
North Hotel. The workshop will focus on managing liability
for fruit and vegetable growers, packers and shippers to
increase the marketability and safety of their produce.
While the Initiative stresses the prevention of
microbiological contamination of fresh fruits and
vegetables, it is best to prepare should such contamination
occur.
Mary Donnell, Extension Agent, Ohio State University
Extension Agricultural Business Enhancement Center and
workshop coordinator says that topics will include
developing crisis management plans, understanding how to
work with media during difficult times, building a food
recall system and exploring options in product liability
insurance.
The featured presenter is Gil Meyer, Director, Issues and
Program Management, Dupont Agriculture & Nutrition where one
of his roles is serving as crisis coordinator. Meyer also
serves on the executive committee of the International Food
Information Council, a leading organization of the food
industry and conducts workshops on crisis management.
Additional presenters include Paul Panico, Chief,
Division of Food Safety, Ohio Department of Agriculture;
Mary Donnell; John Wargowsky, Executive Director, Mid
American Ag and Hort Services; Martha Filipic, Technical
Editor, Communications and Technology, Ohio State University
Extension; Dr. Shari Plimpton, Program Manager, Industry
Outreach, Center For Innovative Food Technology; and Scott
Bell, Loss Control Manager and Christal Leggett, Custom
Accounts Underwriter with Farmland Insurance-Nationwide
Agribusiness Companies.
The workshop fee of $40 includes a continental breakfast,
lunch, workshop notebook and certificate of attendance.
Attendance is limited to 100. Growers, packers and shippers
from Ohio and other states as well as professionals working
with fruit and vegetable growers, packers and shippers are
welcome to register. November 10 is the workshop
registration deadline while November 1 is the hotel
registration deadline. Complete workshop information is
available by contacting Jennifer Hungerford at 614-246-8289
or maahs@ofbf.org or visiting www.midamservices.org and
clicking on "projects."
This Initiative is cooperatively managed by the Ohio
State University Extension Agricultural Business Enhancement
Center, Mid American Ag and Hort Services and the Center for
Innovative Food Technology and is financed in part through a
grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the State of
Ohio and the United States Department of Agriculture under
the provisions of the Specialty Crop Grant.
A new book published by the University of California
Agricultural Issues Center suggests ways agricultural
employers, managers and supervisors can cultivate greater
productivity and reduce turnover among employees. In the
book, Labor Management in Agriculture: Cultivating Personnel
Productivity, second edition, author Gregory Encina
Billikopf discusses motivation and other factors that affect
job performance.
"When it comes to profitability, there are many factors that
farmers have little control over, such as cost of feed, crop
prices and the weather," said Billikopf, a University of
California labor-management farm advisor. "Much of what
growers can do to enhance their bottom line, however, is
associated with their employees."
Labor Management in Agriculture covers such topics as the
use of practical tests in hiring, the fine-tuning of
incentive pay (including piece rates), the advantages and
disadvantages of different pay structures, performance
evaluations, interpersonal conflicts and employee
discipline. The book focuses on management and supervision
techniques rather than on legal requirements, and includes
examples from the experiences of farm employers.
The publication is available in English (2nd Edition, 248
pp.) and Spanish (International Edition, 262 pp.). The
hardbound book contains 18 chapters and more than 100
photos. This edition contains a new chapter on interpersonal
negotiations and updates throughout that are based on the
latest results in personnel management research. The book
can also be viewed on the Internet at
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/
Billikopf, who is based in Stanislaus County, has been a
labor management farm advisor for the University of
California since 1981. He is a frequent national and
international speaker on farm labor management.
Labor Management in Agriculture (in English or Spanish)
costs $12.50 plus tax and shipping (where applicable) and
can be ordered through the UC Cooperative Extension office
in Stanislaus County. For more information, contact
Elizabeth Resendez at 209-525-6800 or eresendez@ucdavis.edu
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