June 18, 2010

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( RWB). 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. If you have missed any of our past issues, they can be found on our website at www.wuenvironmental.com.

July 1, 2010 deadline for Waste Discharge Requirements 

The next deadline for the Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) is less than two weeks away.  If you have not contacted your WUES Technician to complete your WDRs, we cannot guarantee meeting the July 1, 2010 deadline, and you will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis.  In addition to submitting annual reports, you will also be required to prepare and submit engineered Waste Management Plans (WMP). We want to remind you of the importance of contracting with an engineer for your WMP. We have engineers that have partnered with us to provide this service to our clients at a reduced rate.  You can contact your Environmental Services Technician or WUES office for a list of these preferred providers.  June 18, 2010 WUES

Kings County milk value drops 39%

Weak crop prices, a shortage of water and a struggling dairy industry drove Kings County's overall crop value down 25% last year. The county's crops were valued at $1.3 billion in 2009, down from $1.7 billion in 2008, according to the annual crop report released Tuesday.  Taking some of the biggest hits were dairy and field crops. Last year, milk's value fell 39% to $411 million and alfalfa hay declined by 50% to $51 million. Corn silage's value dropped 54% to $44 million. "When people in the dairy business are having a tough time, it drives down the prices for other crops as well," Niswander said. <more> June 16, 2010 Fresno Bee  

Water diversion report deadline July 1

People who divert surface water in California face a July 1 deadline to report that use for 2009. Failure to do so by the deadline could result in hefty fines. The new reporting requirement is included in the package of water bills passed by the Legislature late last year. The intent of the new law is to better identify the amount of water being used in the state’s watersheds. Although there are a few reporting exceptions, Danny Merkley, California Farm Bureau Federation water resources director, said it’s important for landowners to note that reporting diversions to the State Water Resources Control Board has been required for decades, but he said “in the past there were no legal consequences for failure to report. Now, there are.” Farm Bureau has prepared a detailed guidance document to help members meet the new reporting requirements. It’s available online at www.cfbf.com/waterreporting. June 11, 2010 WUD Update

Milk producers seek to replace federal price supports

The most powerful dairy industry organization in the United States wants to change agricultural safety nets that have been in place for decades. The National Milk Producers Federation's board of directors said it would move forward with major changes in federal dairy policies, which it said have failed to protect producers against market volatility. The board voted last week to support a plan called Foundation for the Future, which could change the direction of federal price support programs, said federation President and Chief Executive Jerry Kozak. The plan proposes to transition federal financial safety nets into a new Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program, which would guard against a collapse in producer prices. It would also establish a Dairy Market Stabilization Program to prevent imbalances in milk production and demand. <more> June 16, 2010 LA Times  

June Dairy Month Passes Unanimously in the House

National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) applauds Congress for unanimously passing the bipartisan resolution recognizing June as National Dairy Month last night. Seventy-nine members of the House of Representatives co-sponsored the resolution introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) on May 18, 2010. Since 1939, June has been celebrated as National Dairy Month, honoring the important role the dairy industry has played in the economic and nutritional well-being of Americans. <more> June 16, 2010 NMPF Press Release  

Strip-till, no-till corn silage field days set for June 29-30

-Four Valley dairies will hold field days June 29-30 to demonstrate strip-till or no-till corn silage planting techniques. The field days are sponsored by the Conservation Tillage Workgroup. Field days will be held at: June 29, 9 a.m., BarVee Dairy, 3031 N. Washington, Turlock and at 11 a.m., Coreira Family Dairy, 5245 South Highway 33, Santa Nella. June 30, 9 a.m., Giacomazzi Dairy, 9550 Sixth Avenue, Hanford, and 11 a.m., Barcellos Farms, 14781 Avenue 152, Tipton.  Each field day will last about one hour. Additional information is available from Jeff Mitchell at (559) 303-9689 mitchell@uckac.edu

 

JUNE 2010

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