Weekly Update template July 24, 2009

July 24, 2009

Welcome to Weekly Update, a publication of Western United Environmental Services (WUES). We realize you look to us as a reliable source of information on the Waste Discharge Requirements from the Regional Water Board. We strive to provide your dairy with quality service, while at the same time saving you money as you face the challenges in complying with the WDRs. Previous editions of can be found at www.wuenvironmental.com.

Waste management plan funds available to Central Valley dairies

Western United Dairymen (WUD) and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are partnering in a new project to support dairy producers in the Central Valley in developing Waste Management Plans (WMPs) and improving water quality protection on their farms. WUD, NRCS, dairy farmers, and California Registered Professionals will work together to comply with the regulations of the Waste Discharge Requirement's General Order for Existing Milk Cow Dairies as adopted by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. All producers in the Central Valley, regardless of affiliation, are eligible to apply.

The Central Valley General Order for Existing Milk Cow Dairies requires that “the portions of the WMP that are related to facility and design specifications (items II and III) must be prepared by, or under the responsible charge of, and certified by a civil engineer who is registered pursuant to California law or other person as may be permitted under the provisions of the California Business and Professions Code to assume responsible charge of such work.”

A successful applicant will receive funds to hire and work with a California Registered Professional to prepare a Waste Management Plan for their dairy. There is $1,200,000 in funding currently available. Projects to improve manure management are also eligible for funding.

This partnership project is funded through the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI), a new program established in the 2008 Farm Bill, and will be administered by NRCS through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP.)

The application period will end close of business July 31, 2009. To file an application, contact your local NRCS office. Appointments are advised. If you have questions about the program, contact the local NRCS office, or contact WUD staff: Paul Martin at (707) 763-8874, Paul Sousa at (209) 527-6453, or the WUD field representative in your area.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today testified to the Senate Agriculture Committee on the role that rural America can play in addressing climate change. In his testimony, Vilsack will announce the results of USDA economic analysis showing that the economic benefits to agriculture from the cap and trade legislation will likely outweigh the costs in the short term, and that the economic benefits from offsets markets will easily outpace increased input costs over the long term. Below are excerpts from Secretary Vilsack's prepared testimony: "Although we realize there are a variety of specific approaches that can be used to achieve clean energy and climate goals, over the last several weeks, USDA has analyzed costs and benefits of the House-passed climate legislation for agriculture. Our analysis demonstrates that the economic opportunities for farmers and ranchers can potentially outpace - perhaps significantly - the costs from climate legislation. <more> July 22, 2009 USDA Press Release

USDA has finally provided what many in agriculture and in Washington have been asking for: analysis on the impacts for agriculture of climate-change legislation. According to information prepared for a Senate Ag Committee hearing on this topic today, USDA said the current version of climate-change legislation approved by the House would increase farm expenses by $700 million, or 0.3%, from 2012-18. Offsetting that increase would be revenues from carbon offsets for agriculture that are estimated by USDA to tally some $1 billion per year in the near term and upwards of $15 billion in 2040. Also, income from biofuels is expected to provide a net return of at least $600 million. USDA also said that EPA puts the net returns at $1 billion to $2 billion per year. <more> July 22, 2009 AgWeb.com

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

1^st of the month	Photograph Free Board in Ponds
Each month	Visual inspection (production and waste storage areas; ponds)
Process wastewater application	Visual inspections, volume, date, field & lab analysis
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 and date
Tail water discharge	Date, time, volume, duration, location, source, destination, field measurements & lab analysis if within 60 days of a manure application