Author Archives: jmsmith
Assessment of a Risky Proposition
The livestock newswires are heating up about the recent release of a site-specific risk assessment and review of that assessment for the National Biosecurity and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) to be built in Manhattan, KS. This facility is intended to house … Continue reading
Value of Contingency Planning
On 9/11/2001 how many airlines switched to contingency plan “grounded”? Airlines deal with contingencies every day. Weather and other factors lead to delays or cancellations of flights on an unpredictable but expected basis. Usually these factors impact flights over a … Continue reading
Normal Accidents Theory
Charles Perrow, Professor Emeritus of Sociology of Yale University, wrote “Normal Accidents: Living with High Risk Technologies.” He defines normal accidents as “the interaction of multiple failures that are not in a direct operational sequence” (p. 23). A good example … Continue reading
Unity of Effort Plus Local Knowledge
Two recent commentaries on the BP oil spill have indicated a major shift is needed in how the US responds to major disasters. On September 9, I caught the end of an NPR interview with Thad Allen, retired U.S. Coast … Continue reading
It’s National Farm Safety and Health Week
“Every day, the lives of Americans are touched by the hard work and dedication of our Nation’s farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers. The food they produce through their tireless efforts fuels our Nation, nourishes our bodies, and sustains millions at home … Continue reading
September is Disaster Preparedness Month
Are you Ready? Do you have a family emergency plan? Would you be OK for 72 hours? Face it: No one wants to deal with an emergency or disaster. But when seconds count and lives are on the line, knowing … Continue reading
Traceability Framework
For 2 days at the end of August, almost 200 state veterinarians and livestock industry representatives met in Denver to share suggestions for and concerns about the USDA’s traceability framework, announced in February of this year. The National Institute for … Continue reading
Butterwick Farms
Today I visited Butterwick Farm, owned by John and Lisa Roberts, in West Cornwall, Vt, with Cheryl Dorschner, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Senior Communications Professional. It turns out that the biosecurity project I am leading has been selected … Continue reading
Bennington Battle Day
This was a new holiday to me when I arrived in Vermont. I tried scheduling a project requiring assistance from Agency of Agriculture personnel one August 16 when I learned that this date was a state holiday. Interestingly enough, it … Continue reading
What Does Exercising Have to do with Ag Emergency Preparedness?
Find out by watching Across the Fence just after the noon news Tuesday July 13 on WCAX, Channel 3. Tim Bouton, Senior Planner with the Addison County Regional Planning Commission, and I discuss why we need to practice and how … Continue reading
