Halifax County farmer glad state, not FDA, may handle federally mandated farm inspections

HALIFAX COUNTY (WSLS 10) - Jerry Reese's farm in Halifax County is one of about 400 produce farms across the state that will be subject to federally mandated inspections which are expected to start in about a year and a half.

The inspections are part of a bill signed into law in 2011 by President Obama and apply to produce farms across the country.

Farms that sell their produce out-of-state or sell more than $25,000 worth of produce will be subject to random inspections.

"Not too concerned about the inspections. What we're doing is following the good agricultural practices that we need to be doing anyway," Reese said.

While the idea of inspections doesn't bother him, he is concerned about the requirements of the inspections.

"That would include doing at least 20 water tests, from what I understand, from each water source," Reese explained. "Here on our farm, we have 15 different water sources we use. So, at $50 a shot, that's going to be running in the thousands of dollars."

That would likely cause him to have to increase his prices, but he points out that people are only willing to pay so much, meaning in order to make a profit he could potentially end up needing to charge more than people are willing to pay.

Despite this concern, he says it is relieving to know that the inspections may be done by state agricultural officials rather than the FDA.

"Somebody from the FDA may just come in and say 'hey, this isn't right' and it's some type of automatic fine," Reese said.

Under the 2011 law, states can pass a law agreeing to carry out the inspections and the FDA will provide the state with funding for the work.

According to Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Deputy Director Charles Green, 42 states, including Virginia, are already working with the FDA to carry out the inspections.

That is, if the inspections actually happen.

President Trump could repeal the law before the inspections begin.

"If the federal regulation were to be repealed, immediately the state law would also be repealed," said Green.

The state's law also includes language that says the inspections will stop if federal funding for the inspections runs out.

The bill has passed the Senate and is now working its way through the House.