March 27, 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.

What does the proposed WDR amendment mean to you?

While the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board prepares to consider a proposed amendment to Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) at its April 23-24 board meeting, rumor and misinformation are running wild in the dairy industry. It is critically important that producers understand exactly what is in the proposed amendment, and what impacts it will have on them in both the near- and long-term in order to make good decisions regarding their compliance activities.

The proposed amendment will change the filing date for the portion of the Waste Management Plan due July 1, 2009 to July 1, 2010. It will also change the due date for the status report on necessary modifications from July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. It will not postpone the entire July 1, 2009 reporting requirements. The balance of the July 1 report, an annual report, nutrient management plan, and salinity report, will be required on time, regardless of the outcome of the April meeting, so producers are encouraged to continue working toward completion of all other elements of that report. Producers who expect to weather this current crisis and remain in business should consult with their technician to map out a compliance strategy that will provide them with some financial flexibility and keep them on target for completion.

Bear in mind that the final deadline for implementation of improvements identified in the Waste Management Plan will not be affected by the proposed amendment, which means that delays in preparing the engineering report may result in a compressed implementation schedule. Since the implementation is likely to be an expensive and time consuming process, producers are urged to continue working with their engineering partners to establish a plan which will allow for final completion within a reasonable time frame, regardless of the outcome of the April meeting.

Federal milk orders examined at industry meeting

A capacity crowd of more than 200 California dairy industry members gathered in Modesto last week for the second in a series of three meetings designed to provide an in-depth look at the industry’s challenges. While there was no consensus on possible solutions, the industry has taken another positive step down a long road that will hopefully end in development of policies that will put “stability into the market and eliminate wild price swings,” according to Western United Dairymen President Ray Souza.

The March 18 session focused on an examination of federal milk marketing orders by a variety of experts, along with viewpoints on California’s milk pooling and pricing system. With so many opinions offered, it was not realistic to expect the audience to walk away with a consensus approach on the path forward, but the educational value of the session was exactly what organizers desired.

Speaking at a post-meeting press conference, Souza told reporters that “in the short term, our goal is to get producers back on their feet, and in the long term we need to develop policies that will address bringing stability into the market and eliminate wild price swings. To do that, we need to educate at the grassroots level. There is a lot of misinformation out there. We think with this approach we can come up with a long term plan that is both sustainable and stable.”

The third and final industry meeting is set for Tuesday, March 31 at the Doubletree Hotel, Modesto. Topics for the day include innovation and the need to encourage growth in value-added products that bring higher returns for producers by meeting domestic and global demand. Also to be discussed is the global marketplace and how California can align itself to best meet global demand. The session begins at 10 a.m.

Audio files of speaker presentations from the February 19, 2009 industry meeting on supply management and plant capacity have been posted to the WUD website and can be accessed at www.westernuniteddairymen.com/feb192009meeting.htm.

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.

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES

APRIL

1st of the month

Photograph Free Board in Ponds

  

Each Week

Visual inspection (production and waste storage areas; ponds)

  

Solid manure application

Volume/density OR weight/moisture, and lab analysis 2 x per year

  

Manure Exports

Measure volume/density OR weight/moisture

  

Harvest

Yield, lab analysis

  

Irrigation event

Volume, source, date

  

Tail water discharge

Date, time, volume, duration, location, source, destination, field measurements & lab analysis if within 60 days of manure application.

  

To receive more information on WUES, please contact your WUES Environmental Technician or WUES Office: