|
VOLUME XVI, NO. 11 |
TEXAS DAIRY REVIEW |
NOVEMBER 2007 |
 |
|||
|
Dairymen warned: TCEQ permit applications should be technically correct TAHC adopts New Cattle entry, testing and movement regulations Grand opening of Huckabay Ridge plant hosts several state and local officials |
|||
|
Dairymen warned: TCEQ permit applications should be technically correct |
|||
|
Charles McGuire, representing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) updated dairymen at an October meeting held during Texas Ag Expo. McGuire acknowledged ‘‘things are tense’’ right now concerning the permitting process and actions by the TCEQ to crack down on unacceptable permit applications.
Dairymen have too much at risk to have their applications returned, McGuire said. ‘‘Dairymen should read through their applications and go over it with their consultants to catch mistakes. Oversights or any mistakes should be avoided at all costs because the consequences are so grave.’’ McGuire said that technical information is the ‘‘nuts and bolts’’ of the application. ‘‘It’s vitally important because this goes to the EPA for their approval and also goes into the public meeting portion of the application process.’’ Currently 11 dairies are in second notice and this is where the bulk of inquiries and criticism takes place, McGuire said. ‘‘We see criticisms about the rules, the programs, 3rd party fields, tools by consultants, and so on. We have to examine all these comments but the agency is very comfortable with most criticisms and sees no reason to deny a permit. The concern is with technical problems.’’ McGuire said if a permit is returned to a dairyman, he has every right to come to the Commission to file an appeal. He said the agency is ‘‘very sympathetic’’ to most problems.
McGuire pointed out the application process: Application Filed; First Notice; Application Technically Complete; Second Notice; Comment Letters; Public Meeting; Response to Comments; Contested Case Hearing; Denial or Issuance of Permit. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
TAHC adopts New Cattle entry, testing and movement regulations |
|||
|
In an effort to protect Texas’ TB free status, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials have adopted new cattle entry, testing, and movement regulations that went into effect on Sat. Oct. 13. TB Herds Lead to New Regs Texas Animal Health Commissioners have tightened regulations due to the recent findings of TB infections in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Minnesota, and Michigan. New Mexico currently has two quarantined dairy herds and is in the process of tracing TB exposed animals that have been removed from these herds. Many of these cattle were marketed or moved into Texas and other states. TAHC determined that difficulty in locating such TB exposed animals led to the necessary passage of the new state rules affecting dairy cattle. Importance of Identification ‘‘Identification of animals prior to movement from the herd of origin and prior to entry into the state will greatly enhance the ability to track diseased or exposed animals and enable more effective disease surveillance systems,’’ said TAHC veterinarian Dr. Bob Hillman. ‘‘We must be able to find the disease quickly if it is re-introduced and trace those animals that may be the source of infection or be exposed to TB,’’ he said. Provisions of New Regs New regulations include the following provisions and requirements: 1). Identification of all Texas dairy cattle, regardless of age, with an official or TAHC approved identification device prior to movement within the state. 2). Lower the TB test-eligible age from six months to two months of age for sexually intact dairy cattle entering Texas. Animals must also be officially and individually identified, accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection stating they tested negative for TB within 60 days prior to entering Texas. 3). Require sexually intact male and female dairy breed cattle that are less than two months of age at the time of entry into Texas from another state to be officially and individually identified prior to entry. Animals must have a TAHC-issued entry permit accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. 4). Require official and individual identification of dairy breed steer and spayed heifer calves entering Texas from other states, regardless of age. 5). Forego TB testing on out-of-state dairy cattle delivered to an approved feedlot in Texas for finish feeding for slaughter only unless the animals are from TB-infected herd. Dairy feed animals must be identified and have a TAHC entry permit and certificate of veterinary inspection. 6). Require TB test for Mexican-origin (or ‘‘M’’ branded) steers that are recognized as potential rodeo and/or roping stock, and entering Texas from other states. Steers must have a negative TB test within the previous 12 months and a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within the previous 30 days. Voluntary Until Jan. 1, '08 Hillman said the September commission meeting and the effective October date for the new regulations did not provide sufficient lead time for dairy producers and market operators to fully comply with the new regulations. Therefore, TAHC will work with all facets of the Texas livestock industry to achieve voluntary compliance until Jan. 1, 2008, for all provisions of the new regulations, except for: the two months of age testing requirement for sexually intact dairy breed cattle and the requirement for identification of sexually intact dairy breed calves under two months of age imported from other states. These provisions will be effective on the Oct. 13, 2007 date. ID All Dairy Cattle Hillman said the most significant impact of the new regulations for dairy operations is the requirement that all dairy cattle in Texas are identified with an official identification device or other identification devices approved by the TAHC prior to movement. He emphasized it is the responsibility of the owner/manager of dairy breed cattle to identify animals prior to movement to a market or other locations. Over the next two months, TAHC staff will determine what ‘‘other’’ identification devices will be accepted under which conditions. However, it is anticipated that only official identification will be allowed for change of ownership. Other devices, such as plastic or button tags with the dairy/owner name and an individual identification number imbedded on them will be allowed for movement in which there is not a change in ownership to destinations such as calf ranches or direct consignments to slaughter facilities. Eight Official ID Devices Official identification devices for change of ownership or interstate movement includes USDA silver eartags, USDA orange eartags, DHIA tags, and three different USDA AIN tags such as Country code 840 series Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) (premises registration required), Manufacturer code 900 series RFID tags, (premises registration not required), USA prefix RFID tags (premises registration not required), official breed registry tattoos, and official breed registry firebrands. Most recently, the approval of two more official animal identification devices was announced by USDA. These two new devices are a RFID from Leader Products and an injectable transponder from Digital Angel. Dairy Recommendation Although not required under the new regulation, it is recommended that all dairies voluntarily obtain a Premises Identification Number and begin to utilize the 840 series RFID system for identifying their dairy cattle. Premises Identification Numbers may be obtained through any TAHC office or online registration at www.tahc.state.tx.us |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Grand opening of Huckabay Ridge plant hosts several state and local officials |
|||
|
The grand opening of Huckabay Ridge, the largest renewable natural gas facility in North America, is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2007, at the plant near Stephenville, Texas. Several state and local officials will be at the full ribbon cutting ceremony that includes Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, Texas Congressman Sid Miller, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, and President and CEO of Environmental Power, Rich Kessel. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a tour of the plant at noon. A barbecue lunch will be provided at 12:30 for invited guests. Microgy Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Environmental Power Corporation, began delivery of pipeline quality gas from Huckabay Ridge this past spring to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). The facility generates biogas from manure and other agricultural waste, conditions the biogas to natural gas standards and distributes RNG (tm) via a commercial pipeline. RNG (tm) is Microgy’s branded, renewable, pipeline quality methane product. With eight digesters in place and in varying stages of start-up, full operational capacity will allow Huckabay Ridge to be the largest RNG (tm) production facility in North America, with annual sales of approximately 635,000 mmbtus of RNG (tm) per year---the equivalent of over 4.7 million gallons of heating oil. In addition to energy production, Huckabay Ridge expects to generate annual carbon offsets that can be sold in voluntary markets including the Chicago Climate Exchange. Greenhouse gas reduction is a rapidly growing environmental concern supported by numerous state initiatives, including California and the Northeast. It is attracting significant attention among federal legislators pursuing restrictions that limit carbon output and create a market for trading carbon capture ‘‘credits.’’ The carbon credits have a value of approximately $3-4 per metric ton in today’s voluntary carbon credit market and are expected to increase in value as a binding cap and trade system evolves in the U.S. Most recently, Microgy, Inc. announced it will begin deliveries of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG(R)) from the Huckabay Ridge facility beginning October 1, 2008 to Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). Microgy and PG&E signed a 10-year agreement in October 2006 which allows PG&E to purchase up to 8,000 MMBtu of pipeline quality renewable natural gas daily from Microgy’s facilities. Deliveries from the Huckabay Ridge project, at up to 2,000 MMBtu per day, will allow Microgy to begin deliveries under this contract. ‘‘We are very pleased to have a firm delivery date to sell PG&E our pipeline grade renewable natural gas from our first full-scale production facility,’’ said Rich Kessel, president and CEO of Environmental Power. ‘‘Our partnership with PG&E is a win-win proposition. It provides PG&E’s customers with a reliable, cost-effective source of renewable energy, and it allows our companies to begin working together while our California projects proceed through the permitting process. ‘‘At the same time,’’ Kessel added, ‘‘we greatly appreciate our relationship with Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and the support they have provided during the start up of our Huckabay Ridge facility. We will continue to explore opportunities to work with LCRA on future projects.’’ For more information visit the Company’s web site at www.environmentalpower.com. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Beat Goes On |
|||
|
A collision of forces taking place along the North Bosque River is making it very difficult for area dairy farmers to continue in business. If I could have one solution to this problem it would be as follows: Dairy farms that want to move---get paid to move. Dairy farms that do not want to move---shut down. Why do I like this solution? Mainly, because this fight seems to be unending! The reasons for this range from the vagaries of scientific testing; to the fact that scientific researchers usually get paid to find problems so consequently they do; to the fact that farmers seem to think if they follow the law, then everything is fine politically; to the fact that neighbors and Waco residents seem to think if dairy farms move out then everything will somehow be fine with their environment. None of these forces are likely to change, thus, this fight seems unending. However, all life is short and everyone seems to be wasting a lot of their precious time. A solution is far more likely to emerge when all parties are not busy fighting, justifying their particular viewpoints, and seeing the worst in others. This is just my opinion as a relatively objective outsider. When writing a 2001 case study on this situation, I met the mayor of Waco and liked her. I have known a lot of dairy farmers and liked them too. As far as I know, people need to eat food and drink water. Neither of these things are free. It takes work to make both and both are needed. A Stalemate In a few weeks, my class at Texas A&M University will again study this case. Perhaps I am uninformed, but if I squint my eyes, I cannot really tell the 2001 situation from that of today. If someone thinks they are going to drive farmers out of business, they might think twice. I worked for farmers for ten years and I can tell you that they are some of the most stubborn people I have ever met. On the other hand, if someone thinks that scientists, lobbyists, and attorneys are going to stop wanting to find problems/fight, I can tell you that that is exactly how they make their living. What you think of as a problem, they call a paycheck. If someone thinks politicians and government employees are going to stop worrying about their citizens, that is not going to happen either. So there is every reason to think that this situation will remain just as it is at present. Call it a stalemate. Someday the folks in Austin and D.C., whom they are complaining to, may say, ‘‘enough, solve your own problems and develop a proposal together.’’ Until that day comes, you can look for happy scientists, consultants and attorneys to enjoy the mother lode of this fight. Each can look at the situation and find facts to support their latest billing statement while those actually paying these bills can find ample facts to support paying them. John W. Siebert, professor, Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas |
|||
|
|
|||
|
17th Annual Texas Ag Expo hosts exhibitors and visitors |
|||
|
‘‘The 17th Annual Texas Ag Expo was a great success,’’ said Melissa Proffitt, executive director for TriCounty Agribusiness Association (TCAA). ‘‘We sincerely want to thank all those who participated in the show.’’
Proffitt said close to 1000 people attended this year’s expo on Wed., Oct. 23 and Thurs., Oct 25 in Stephenville at Lone Star Arena. Tumbleweed Bar-B-Que served lunch to more than 600 visitors on Wednesday during the ag appreciation lunch sponsored by Ag Texas Farm Credit Services, Comanche National Bank, Agri-Max Financial Services, Dublin National Bank, First National Bank of Dublin, Town & Country Bank, Texas Bank, First Financial Bank, Members Trust Credit Union and Lone Star Ag Credit. Farm Bureau Insurance, Erath County and Shamrock Fertilizer and Chemical cooked and served more than 250 breakfast burritos on Thursday. Lunchtime brought in more than 300 visitors for a bowl of chili, cooked and served by the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. This year’s expo featured the First Annual Chili Cook Off. The Ag Texas Farm Credit Services team won first place for their outstanding chili, followed by Bull Nettle Restaurant in 2nd place, and Mama Red’s Catering in 3rd place. Mama Red’s Catering also won for showmanship. Sixty-five exhibitors showcased their products and services, including our VIP Sponsors, DairyMax, who gave away door prizes hourly, and The Southwest Dairy Farmers Museum, where kids and adults stuffed their bags full of goodies. The large tractor booths were a big hit with the crowd, including Texstar Kabota, Bramlett Implement, Tractor Supply, Bruner Motors, Holt Cat, Hendershots Equipment, The Mixer Center, and Advanced Ag Tractor Sales and Services. More than 900 pints of milk were also handed out at the expo, thanks to DairyMax, Southwest Dairy Farmers and Oak Farms. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
All internet content of this site
are Copyright © 2005-2007 TDR Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. |
|||
 |
