The Virginia State Dairymen.s Association represents approximately 725 dairy farm families across the state. Certainly the events of last July with the tragic deaths of the Showalter family shook the entire dairy industry in Virginia. Our association and the farmer members have become  more acutely aware of the dangers of manure pits and other confined spaces because of this incident and we have been working with extension and other organizations to educate farmers on the hazards they face every day on the farm. We do not believe however, that another inspection regulation administered by another outside agency is something that would be embraced by farmers nor  would it achieve optimal results. Certainly more education would be beneficial and it would be more effective to work through cooperative extension  and other agencies farmers are already working with. Virginia State Dairymen is more than willing to work with your agency to develope a strategy that would help improve safety on the farm and would be embraced by the farming community. An OSHA type program is not the best route to go. Tell us how we can help.

Dale Gardner

Executive Secretary VSDA