FIRE BAN IN EFFECT In response to the continued elevated risk of wildfires, DEM has issued a fire ban at all State Parks, campgrounds, and management areas until further notice. The ban is effective as of today (10/28/24) and includes campfires in designated campfire areas, including charcoal fires and cooking fires. This preventative measure applies to all DEM-managed lands and aims to reduce the threat of human-caused wildfires. DEM will continue to monitor and evaluate conditions to determine when the ban can be lifted. Together we can protect our communities and keep first responders safe by reducing the risk of wildfires: 📞 Call 911 if you spot a fire/smoke. Timely information is critical to contain fires before they spread. 🔥 Remember, any outdoor fire is a potential source for a wildfire. Be careful with cigarettes and ashes. When disposing of wood stove ashes, put the ashes in a metal bucket of water. 🚒 Check with your local fire department for any other restrictions and permitting information. 🚨 Stay informed and find resources at dem.ri.gov/wildfirestatus.
Record Keeping The FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requires a few specific records. Our goal is to help growers establish records to meet FSMA PSR requirements. Growers may want to or need to keep additional records to ensure that required practices are being carried out correctly to meet buyer requirements or for a third-party audit. Other documents like a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Food Safety Plans may be helpful for implementing practices of your farm. Always advisable to check the PSA Grower Training curriculum and the PSR Regulation for more details. All records for the PSR must include: The name and location of the farm Actual values and observations obtained during monitoring A description of the covered produce (eg. Commodity name, variety, brand or any other identifier) Location of the growing area, if applicable Date and time that the activity occurred Records for covered farms Personnel Qualifications and Training Agricultural Water Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin Equipment, Tools. Buildings, and Sanitation Records for Qualified Exempt farms To claim Qualified Exemption you must keep records that prove: A rolling average of your total food sales for each of the previous three years, and Documentation that the majority of those food sales go to qualified end users.