Weekly Update Jan. 8, 2010

Welcome to Weekly Update, a publication of Western United Environmental Services (WUES). Our goal is to provide you with the latest information about the WDR’s from the Water Board and how our organization can help you with your environmental challenges. All previous publications of the Weekly Update can be found in the News section on our website at www.wuenvironmental.com.

Western United Environmental Services (WUES) has welcomed two new environmental technicians. We’re excited that Courtney Curti and Afton Nunes have joined our team. Courtney replaced Brittany Bosma and covers Tulare, Kern and Kings Counties. Afton replaced Ashley Carvajal and covers Merced and Stanislaus Counties.

Courtney is a 2009 graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Food and Agriculture, with a minor in Agriculture Business. A resident of Tulare, she has grown up on a family dairy farm rising cattle. Her previous agriculture background is from the Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, M. Curti & Sons and California Department of Food and Agriculture. “I know this experience will help me relate and be able to advise dairymen efficiently and successfully about current environmental issues,” says Courtney.

Afton is a 2003 graduate of Modesto Junior College’s Dairy Science Program. She is also currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture Business from CSU Stanislaus. A resident of Modesto, Afton has developed her dairy knowledge from partaking in the Dairy Heifer & Calf Association and Young Farmers and Ranchers. Her previous work experience is with Yosemite Farm Credit where she promoted agriculture financing. Afton says she will utilize her communication skills, agriculture experience, organizational skills and background in the agriculture industry when servicing clients.

Ashley Carvajal, a WUES service technician left WUES to take a job in Texas. Ashley had been with WUES since its inception in 2008. She covered Merced County west of Highway 165 and Stanislaus County west of Highway 99. Ashley relocated to Dallas, Texas where she has procured a position with Securenet Inc. as a Sales Rep.

“It has been a pleasure working with my dairymen and farmers over the past two years,” Ashley said. “I've enjoyed tracking down clients on the farm, running away from angry dairy dogs, catching loose calves, and helping make my clients paperwork stack a bit smaller. I appreciate the opportunity I was given through WUD and WUES with my first career out of college. I'd like to wish everyone the best of luck in the future. Thank you for everything!”

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is now accepting applications through Jan. 15 for its popular EQIP cost-share program for technical and financial assistance to implement environmentally friendly production practices. Applications for EQIP are accepted year-round, but those received by Jan. 15 will be given priority for initial funding considerations for fiscal year 2010. Contracts might include cost-share grants for a number of natural resource improvement projects, such as water use efficiency, water quality and air quality. The deadline on two newer EQIP programs, one for organic growers and another providing funds to replace or retrofit older, higher-polluting farm equipment engines, has been extended until Jan. 29 to give growers more time to participate in the new programs. For information, contact your nearest USDA NRCS office or go to http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.

On January 1, 2010, agricultural operations statewide were required to take the first action to comply with the new rule by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulating all diesel trucks that were originally designed for on-road use; pickups are exempt from the rule. Trucks used on agricultural operations, including dairies, received some exemptions from the rule due to the types of uses and the economic impact the rule would have on agriculture.

In order to qualify for these exemptions, agricultural producer needed to record the odometer reading of all of their trucks on January 1. That information, plus information about the truck and its owner, must be reported to CARB by March 31, 2010. WUD’s environmental specialist, Paul Sousa says, “Agriculture got some valuable exemptions from this rule; however, dairy producers must register for those exemptions through this process. If a producer fails to register they will have to comply with the rule, which means turning over your truck fleet on an accelerated basis.” Exemptions are for vehicles classified as “low-mileage agricultural vehicle” for trucks that operate less than 10,000 miles per year; or classified as “limited-mileage agricultural vehicle” that, depending on the model year, operates less than the mileage in the table; or for a “specialty agricultural vehicle”, such as water trucks used on farms.

This rule applies to all farming operation vehicles in the state of California. The reporting form to be submitted by March 31 can be found at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/reporting.htm. If you have any questions regarding the Diesel Truck Rule or the reporting requirements contact your WUD field representative.

1^st of the month	Photograph Free Board in Ponds
Weekly	Visual inspection (production and waste storage areas; ponds)
Manure Exports	Measure volume/density OR weight/moisture (require lab analysis)
Harvest	Yield, lab analysis

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

Low or Limited Mileage Agricultural Vehicles
Vehicle Classification	Engine Model Year	Annual Mileage Limit	Exempt until
Limited-Mileage	1995 and older	15,000 miles	Jan 1, 2017
	1996 – 2005	20,000 miles	Jan 1, 2017
	2006 or newer	25,000 miles	Jan 1, 2017
Low-Mileage	Any model year	10,000 miles	Jan 1, 2023
Specialty (see definition)	Any model year	No Limitation	Jan 1, 2023