By Faith Peppers
University of
Georgia

Georgia farmers can add their input on biosecurity issues to
farmer opinions nationwide through a survey now being
conducted.

The 40-state Extension Disaster Education Network received U.S.
Department of Agriculture funds to identify farmers’ educational
needs on homeland security.

“Georgia farmers need to respond to the EDEN survey,” Charles
McPeake said, “to help present an accurate description of
grassroots positioning and needs related to the homeland security
issue.”

McPeake is the agriculture and natural resources program leader
with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences.

“This accumulation of information allows concerned organizations
like Extension to provide more timely information for specific
situations,” he said.

November survey

The EDEN survey will be conducted through November. To take the
survey, farmers may visit the EDEN Web site
(www.agctr.lsu.edu/eden) and click on “Homeland Security
Surveys,” then on “Survey of Ag and Horticulture Producers.”

The survey is anonymous. It takes less than 10 minutes to
complete. Farmers can complete it anywhere they have access to
the Web, including libraries and Extension offices.

“There are factors concerning agriculture that lead experts to
disagree about whether farming and the food supply are at risk to
bioterrorism,” said Steve Cain, EDEN delegate and a Purdue
University Extension Service specialist. “Whether or not there is
a real threat to the American food supply, even the risks bring
up issues that society must deal with.”

Biosecurity issues

The EDEN project will help measure farmers’ perceptions about
biosecurity issues on the farm.

“Since September 11, the news media have done a credible job of
providing information about homeland security,” Cain said. “But
often that information raises questions and debate that can only
be addressed with educational programs.”

The survey will help Extension staffs, nationally and in each
state, know how to direct educational programs. Experts will use
the information to make educational materials available to
farmers.

“Georgia began focusing on biosecurity and agrosecurity when
foot-and-mouth problems emerged in England,” McPeake said. “Then
along came 9/11, which threw our nation into the unknown.”

To create awareness of these issues, UGA put together a CAES task
force and agrosecurity conference. Materials can also be found on
various Web sites.