Weekly Update May 21, 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 (WDRs) from the California 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 in complying with the WDRs. Previous editions of can be found at www.wuenvironmental.com.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Farm Bill conservation programs will invest approximately $11.8 million in 2010 for contracts with California dairy and other livestock farmers to implement conservation practices that will help them comply with regulations, manage and use the manure from their animals to fertilize their crops, and improve water quality.“Manure that is applied in proper concentration and at the proper time is taken up and used by crops,” said Ed Burton, State Conservationist for the NRCS California state office. “Nitrogen and other nutrients can be put to work so they cannot wash or percolate into water and become pollutants.” The $11.8 million is made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), and the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI). EQIP contracts are made directly with agricultural producers, while AWEP and CCPI rely on industry and conservation groups to play a coordinating role to accomplish water quality and other conservation goals.Western United Dairymen has partnered with USDA-NRCS to bring AWEP funding to dairy producers in the Central Valley and is working with NRCS to make dairy producers aware that the funding is available. Dairy producers in the Central Valley who have identified deficiencies in their nutrient management infrastructure or need to make other improvements can apply for funds to address those issues under AWEP. The deadline to apply for funds is June 1 at any local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) office. WUD staff is available to assist members in making the application.AWEP is a voluntary conservation initiative that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to implement agricultural water enhancement activities on agricultural land for the purpose of conserving surface- and ground-water and improving water quality. Western United Dairymen sought the funding to assist producers in complying with water quality regulations. Producers have developed Nutrient Management Plans and are now developing Waste Management Plans that may indicate where improvements are needed. AWEP funding can help complete those needed improvements. More information and applications are available at any local Central Valley USDA-NRCS office.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced funding is available for individual on-farm energy audits designed to save both money and energy when fully implemented. California is one of 29 states receiving funding for on-farm energy audits in fiscal year 2010 through the 2008 Farm Bill’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). As much as $225,000 is available in California to assist up to 150 farmers and ranchers with audits. The energy audits will be individually tailored to assess each farm’s primary energy uses such as milk cooling, irrigation pumping, heating and cooling of livestock production facilities, manure collection and transfer, grain drying and other similar on-farm activities. NRCS California will pay for the initial audits and the associated Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP). The AgEMP provides producers a roadmap for future implementation of energy-efficient practices. Applications are due at local NRCS offices on or before June 18, 2010. Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If approved for funding, producers will be asked to select an NRCS-certified local Technical Service Provider, or contractor, to perform the audit and develop the AgEMP. For more information, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center or visit www.nrcs.ca.usda.gov/programs. May 20, 2010 NRCS Press Release

The water supply of more than two million Californians has been exposed to harmful levels of nitrates over the past 15 years – a time marked by lax regulatory efforts to contain the colorless and odorless contaminant, a California Watch investigation has found. Nitrates are now the most common groundwater contaminant in California and across the country. A byproduct of nitrogen-based farm fertilizer, animal manure, wastewater treatment plants and leaky septic tanks, nitrates leach into the ground and can be expensive to extract. <more> May 15, 2010 California Watch

Golfers will have an opportunity to win a Trailer Mount Vertical Mixer from Kirby Manufacturing at the Western United Dairymen Fed-PAC Golf Tournament. Valued at over $50,000, the mixer will be awarded to anyone who makes a hole-in-one at hole #12. The tournament is scheduled for Monday, June 7, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. Also this year, anyone who plays in the tournament and buys raffle tickets will be eligible for a fantastic grand prize—a flat screen television that has been donated by WUD Board President Jamie Bledsoe. Proceeds from the popular event will benefit the Western United Dairymen federal political action committee. Registration flyers have already been mailed and can also be downloaded at www.WesternUnitedDairymen.com. May 14, 2010 WUD Weekly Update

1^st of the month	Photograph Free Board in Ponds
Each week	Visual inspection (production and waste storage areas; ponds)
Process wastewater application	Visual inspections, volume, date, field & laboratory analysis
Solid manure application	Volume/density OR weight/moisture, and lab analysis 2x per year
Manure Exports	Measure volume/density OR weight/moisture
Harvest	Yield, lab analysis
Irrigation event	Volume, source, date, EC and total nitrogen (for each source annually)
Tail water discharge	Date, time, volume, duration, location, source, destination, field measurements & lab analysis if within 60 days of manure application.

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