March 19, 2010

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.

Strip-Tillage workshop offered in Tulare

Sustainable Conservation is hosting a dairy producer workshop on Tuesday, March 23, highlighting successful strategies for producing high yielding silage corn. The session’s topics address whether conservation tillage is the right solution for your operation; common myths about conservation tillage; reasonable expectations for yields, costs and savings; soil compaction issues; and equipment choices and availability. Local dairy producers with conservation tillage experience will be on hand to share their knowledge. The workshop will be in the Heritage Complex Conference Dining Room (second floor), 4500 South Laspina Street in Tulare. Contact Ladi Asgill, Sustainable Conservation, for more information or to register at lasgill@suscon.org  or by calling (209) 604-6554.         

WUD offers informational sessions on diesel truck rules 

Western United Dairymen is offering informational meetings for members who want to learn more about the diesel truck rule being implemented by the state Air Resources Board.

 A workshop is set for Tuesday, March 23, 2 p.m., Kings County Ag Center, Suite F - Multi-Purpose Room, 680 Campus Drive, Hanford. Paul Sousa, WUD’s environmental specialist, will discuss the rule.  WUD staff will be on hand to help fill out your agriculture exemption forms. All area dairy producers are invited. More sessions are planned in various WUD district in the near future. Interested WUD members are asked to contact their field representative if they would like a session held in their area.

Feds increase CVP water allocations

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is increasing the amount of water it expected to deliver through the Central Valley Project to the San Joaquin Valley this year to 25 percent of contracted amounts for those south of the Delta. “We are allocating 25 percent of their contract funding,” says Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in making the announcement Tuesday afternoon. “We are devoting enormous resources in the Department in this matter,” says Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes. He says the government hopes to find additional water to pump to farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. He says the department is determined to find an answer to the needs of all demanding water from the Delta. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor says the allocations are being made under a conservative outlook. A wet winter that has dumped heavy amounts of snow in the Sierra Nevada is credited with the increased water allocations. Combined with the additional 8 percent to 10 percent of supplemental water the Department said it will obtain through various actions, today’s announcement represents a 35 percent water allocation for Westside Valley farmers and farm communities at normal contracted water rates, notes Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno. “Today’s announcement is welcome news for the Valley and our local economy,” says Mr. Costa. “Every additional drop of water we secure is a step forward in our ongoing fight to bring more water to our farmers, farm workers, and farm communities. While the increase is positive news, I want to make it clear that a 35 percent water allocation still falls short of what Valley farmers and communities need to get by. Our Valley’s water district managers have stated that our farmers need a minimum allocation of 40 percent to make it through the year.” <more> March 16, 2010 Central Valley Business Times  

California dairy coalition announces effort to foster humane treatment of cows 

The Dairy Cares coalition announced last week that it is launching a statewide program aimed at assuring consumers and retailers that the state’s dairy families are taking good care of their cows. The voluntary effort, known as the National Dairy FARM program, will be made available to the state’s 1,750 dairy farms. Western United Dairymen President Jamie Bledsoe of Riverdale believes the dairy industry must do a better job of sharing with consumers how dairy farms operate. “Actions, not words, are the only way to maintain and build trust with our consumers,” said Bledsoe, co-chair of the Dairy Cares Animal Well-Being Committee. “We’ve always cared for our animals, and now we have a program in place to validate that we care. And in those rare instances when animal care doesn’t measure up, we have a program to identify issues and address them.” Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) was developed by animal scientists, veterinarians, and dairy industry people. It is designed to assist farmers in demonstrating and verifying the ethical treatment of their dairy animals. “Responsible care and treatment of animals is a core value for our dairy families, and we know it’s important to dairy consumers,” said William C. Van Dam, chairman of the statewide Dairy Cares coalition. “This new program is a major step forward for our state, in that it provides a credible, verifiable way for dairy farmers to demonstrate to consumers that these core values are carried out in our daily management practices.” With the new National Dairy FARM standards already in place, Dairy Cares coalition members are moving forward with initial outreach and education classes. Workshops this spring will review critical issues in animal welfare and prepare dairy farmers for upcoming on-farm evaluations, which are expected to begin later this year. As the program matures, post-evaluation support and assistance will occur, beginning later this year, with third-party verifications scheduled to begin in 2011. The program will include follow-up evaluations on a routine basis. For more information on the Dairy Cares Five-Point Plan, visit www.DairyCares.com. For more information on the National Dairy FARM Program, visit www.NationalDairyFARM.com.

Dairy woes reach nationwide

Modesto Bee Letter to Editor: Regarding "Merced County dairies drying up" (March 9, Page B-3): The financial pain that dairy families are feeling is not only in Merced, Modesto, but all over America. From New York and Wisconsin to California, we all feel the financial stress of how to keep going. With a slightly higher milk price in 2010, dairy families will still lose money the first half of this year. We are paid the same price for our milk as in the 1970s. With the loss of dairies in the area both the dairymen and consumers of this area will suffer, trucking, processors, suppliers, insurance companies and equipment dealers. Something needs to be done now to help the dairyman survive. <more> March 16, 2010 Modesto Bee

Clean environment and ag are partners, farmers told

Farmers can help ensure clean air and water while providing plenty to eat, according to a coalition working toward that goal. The group, the Northern San Joaquin Valley Partnership for Agriculture and the Environment, highlighted such efforts at a meeting last week. One speaker told of a grower-funded program that checks waterways for polluted runoff from farms. Another talked of the progress that has been made in applying pesticides safely. "We want clean air, we want clean water, and we want a safe and abundant food supply," said Christopher Hartley, district conservationist for the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service. <more> March 17, 2010 Modesto Bee

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES

March 2010

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