February 20, 2009

Welcome to Weekly Update, a publication of Western United Environmental Services (WUES), designed to bring you valuable information and helpful tips for compliance with the Waste Discharge Requirements of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. We strive to provide your dairy with quality service, while at the same time saving you money as you face the challenges of compliance. Each week you will find features on compliance issues, regulatory changes or common questions, as well as workshop notices and introductions to the WUES Technicians. If you have missed any of our past issues, they can be found on our website at www.wuenvironmental.com

CDQAP Announces New Workshops

CDQAP is once again offering workshops on the upcoming round of deadlines and deliverables for General Order R5-2007-0035 (Waste Discharge Requirements for Existing Milk Cow Dairies). The next set of reports is due July 1, 2009. CDQAP plans two sets of workshops; the first is targeted specifically at dairy industry professionals working in the subject matter, and the second is focused on dairy producers. The workshops will be short (2 hours vs. 3 hours for previous classes) and focus solely on the General Order requirements. As in the past, CDQAP will provide summary documents, sample report forms and updates on significant issues. CDQAP staff will also solicit input from industry professionals on improvements that can be made to the curriculum prior to the producer workshops. Producer workshop dates will be announced in the next few weeks.

Cash cheese goes back over $1.30 – The gains continue in cash cheese with both blocks and barrels going over the $1.30 mark on Wednesday. Since January 15th, cash cheese barrels have gained 23 cents, blocks are up 29 cents. Class III futures for February are 13 cents lower but April is 92 cents higher and the May contract is 99 cents higher. Ag Market News says industry analysts think the momentum will continue to nudge the market higher as buyers are jumping in before the next price increase. Plant stocks are minimal as inventories have been cleared, in fact most processors and packagers are running overtime to fill orders. Natural lines are the busiest. The big question is how much of the cheese has been filling orders and how much is going into storage for later use when prices may be higher. Retail cheese sales have been good thanks to lower prices and some promotions in grocery stores and in restaurants. <more> Feb. 18, 2009 Brownfield Ag News

Recent California storms won't stop water cutbacks – It may be difficult to imagine a drought after California has been pelted with nearly two weeks of almost steady rainfall, particularly in the northern parts of the state. But the drought remains and water cutbacks loom because of it. After weeks of planning, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is set to hold a series of press conferences Friday, Feb. 20, to announce the details of this year's water cutbacks to Central Valley Project contractors. The dearth of rain earlier in the winter prompted bureau officials in January to warn farmers they can again expect to receive less water than normal. Bureau spokeswoman Sheri Harral said Tuesday, Feb. 17, that cutbacks will likely exceed those of last year, when Central Valley farmers received only 40 percent of normal deliveries. <more> Feb. 17, 2009 Capital Press

USDA Hosts Advisory Meeting On Farm Bill Conservation Priorities For California – USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California will host a State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meeting on March 4 to continue a public dialogue on priorities and procedures appropriate for implementing conservation programs in the Golden State in 2009. The meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the California Farm Bureau conference room at 2300 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento. California received $30 million in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds for 2009 followed by an additional $10.9 million specifically for air quality conservation measures on farms and ranches. The Farm Bill (Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008) provides for a forum of concerned agencies and organizations to provide guidance to the State Conservationist, Ed Burton, on priorities and administrative procedures relative to the distribution of the funds. <more> Feb. 19, 2009 NRCS Press Release

Dairy leader application deadline March 13 – Applications are being taken for the California Dairy Leader Program. Deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 13. The application packet is available on the Western United Dairymen website by clicking here. The application is also available by contacting a WUD field representative or calling the WUD office at (209) 52706453. Feb. 5, 2009

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES

FEBRUARY

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• Phone (209) 238-3818
• Fax (209) 238-3808
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