April 3, 2009

Weekly Update is 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. 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.

Nutrient Management Plans have regulatory benefits

One element of the upcoming July 1 report which is not included in the proposed amendment is the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). The NMP is designed to show how the producer will utilize nutrient cycling (land application of manure, bedding or process waste water) while controlling nutrient losses and protecting both surface water and groundwater. Groundwater monitoring will be accomplished through the use of monitoring wells, as outlined in Attachment A of the Monitoring and Reporting section of the General Order.

The General Order provides for a ranking system to be used to determine the order in which facilities should install wells, considering such factors as nitrate concentration in existing wells on or near the property; distance of production and land application areas from recharge areas, domestic wells or municipal wells; number of crops per year per field; Whole Farm Nitrogen Balance and completion of the NMP by July 1, 2009. Of these factors, the one with the greatest potential to move a facility to the top of the list is failure to complete the NMP on time. This factor alone adds 100 points to the facility total, equal to critical failures in any other five areas at the same time! Since groundwater monitoring could require the installation of multiple wells at a single facility, failure to complete the NMP on time could place a significant financial burden on already-strapped producers.

The decision to order the installation of monitoring wells will be based on the evaluation of the threat each facility poses to water quality. Those with nitrate-nitrogen levels at or above 10mg/L for any one well or drainage in the area will be the first ordered to install wells, but other factors, such as a violation of the General Order, can also trigger the order to install monitoring wells.

CWT Announces Herd Retirement – In light of the perilous financial plight affecting America's dairy farmers, Cooperatives Working Together announced Wednesday that it will conduct its latest herd retirement round. Bids are being accepted starting today through Friday, May 1. "We all recognize that 2009 is shaping up to be among the toughest years on record for dairy farmers, but CWT will help shorten the price plunge farmers are facing, and speed the recovery," said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF, which manages CWT. This is the seventh herd retirement round since CWT began operations in the summer of 2003. Kozak said that, given the dramatic downturn in dairy economics in the past six months, CWT is anticipating a large number of bids. However, since the value of cows and heifers has dropped dramatically, the price level of bids accepted will be much lower than in recent years. As has been the case in recent herd retirement rounds, Kozak said CWT has no set target for the volume of milk or the number of cows to be removed in this round. <more> April 1, 2009 CWT Press Release

USDA says MILC payments are on the way – Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced today that because of low dairy prices across the country, producers participating in USDA's Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program will begin to receive payments. "President Obama understands that dairy farmers are struggling during these tough economic times," said Vilsack. "Today, as a result of low dairy prices, we are distributing MILC payments to ensure that dairy producers have the financial assistance they need.  This action will also stimulate local economies," said Vilsack. USDA makes MILC payments on a monthly basis when the Boston Class I milk price falls below $16.94 per hundredweight as adjusted for feed costs.  USDA determines the per hundredweight payment rate for the applicable month by subtracting the Boston Class I price for that month from the $16.94 MILC payment trigger price, established in the 2008 Farm Bill, as adjusted for feed costs, and multiplying the difference by 45 percent. <more> April 1, 2009 USDA Press Release

Guidelines issued for agriculture's role in climate legislation – The coalition known as 25 x ‘25 has issued guidelines that it says will insure a strong role for agriculture and forestry in climate change legislation. “We really feel this is a new day for agriculture and forestry,” says Nathan Rudgers, former New York Agriculture Commissioner and chairman of the 25 x ‘25 Carbon Work Group, “and rather than ducking, denying and deflecting, we have the opportunity to provide solutions. Offset provisions are critical and we need correct, enabling policy that includes agriculture and forestry.” Among the coalition's guidelines is one that says if lawmakers and the Obama administration ultimately settle on a cap-and-trade system, agriculture and forestry should be identified as “uncapped sectors” capable of generating significant quantities of greenhouse gas reductions.  <more> April 1, 2009 Brownfield Ag News

CDQAP Spring 2009 Workshop Schedule

These intensive 2-hour workshops are focused on 'need to know' information for the July 1 reporting deadline. You must bring your CDQAP binder with you to the class.

• Stanislaus County – Tuesday, April 7^th 10-12 at Stanislaus County Ag Center, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto
• Tulare County – Thursday, April 9^th 10-12 at the Tulare County Ag Center, 4437 Laspina St., Tulare

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES

APRIL

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