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VOLUME XVII, NO. 10 |
TEXAS DAIRY REVIEW |
OCTOBER 2008 |
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Waco “steps in it” as judge vents over permit application
New TSU dairy center shapes up |
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Waco “steps in it” as judge vents over permit application |
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By Sherry Webb
So, Waco wants a permit? So do Bosque River dairies that have been trying for the past four years and have only been able to obtain 14, thus far, thanks to the protests of Waco and their finagling cohorts. But, the worm has turned and for the City of Waco, the shoe is on the other foot. Waco is finally getting a big taste of what they have been dealing out for the past several years. In fact, an all-out war has escalated between the City of Waco and one of their own 10th district sitting state appeals court judge, Felipe Reyna, who is hopping mad and apparently not going to get happier anytime soon unless something drastically changes. Reyna, who owns a 25-acre spread on Bullhide Creek located 2-1/2 miles east of the City of Lorena, is joined by several other Bullhide Creek residents who are vehemently opposed to an application for a state wastewater permit by the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewage System (WMARSS) to construct a sewage treatment plant at Lorena. Reyna has recently spearheaded the Bullhide Creek Clear Water Alliance (BCCWA) and spared no words when voicing his protests along with other group members at a Sept. 23 meeting in Lorena with officials from Waco, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and surrounding city mayors. He later expressed similar opinions to the Texas Dairy Review. “Waco has a double standard,” Reyna said. “They’ve been fighting the dairies for years. But, I’ve heard this plant will produce 250 times more phosphorus than what the dairymen are allowed,” he said. “The water from upstream dairies is diluted. But, Bullhide Creek would have no dilution. “I’d rather drink water from dairy cow affluent any day than human affluent they claim will be as pure as the water in Bullhide Creek after it is recycled, “Reyna said. “We know for sure that cows don’t smoke marijuana, snort cocaine, or take ecstasy. But, with humans, who knows? I don’t believe that the plant water would be pure like they say it would be.”
Reyna said Bullhide Creek residents would not benefit in any way from the proposed plant since they are on septic sewer systems and he regards the proposed plant as a waste of the taxpayers’ money. “If the taxpayers in Waco knew the millions of dollars Waco has already wasted and spent on legal fees against the dairies in the past few years---I guarantee they would form a lynching committee to start hanging Waco officials.” Reyna and the Alliance were angered last spring when they found out the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewer System (WMARSS) had bought 233 acres at Lorena to build the plant. The proposed plant is part of the WMARSS that includes Waco and six surrounding cities. The plant would be an alternative to expanding the central plant on the Brazos and is made available to towns that cannot afford their own sewage systems. The proposed Bullhide plant is designed to process 1.5 million gallons of wastewater per day and would serve part of Hewitt and Lorena. Lorena has already outstripped its infrastructure and needs the plant desperately to continue any kind of home development. The TCEQ placed a moratorium on Lorena sewer hookup permits in June 2006 and further requires they remedy their problem by February 2010. “We can’t help it if Lorena set on their duffs and let their sewage situation get overloaded or out of hand,” Reyna said. “When the TCEQ started getting on their butts, they ran to big brother---Waco---instead of solving their own problems.” Reyna said he is protesting on grounds the plant presents environmental and health issues. “This land was primarily divided into five acre parcels but I bought 25 acres so I could enjoy the peace, quiet and nature. I don’t have any traffic at my place except the trash men I see a couple of times a week. I see no lights, no buildings, no pollution. I see every star in the sky at night and that’s why I live here,” he said. Reyna pointed out Waco’s numerous sewage spills that threaten the environment and surrounding communities. In April 2007, Waco was responsible for two sewage spills of which one was about 100,000 gallons and the other more than five million gallons. He feels the new plant would not be safer or run more efficiently than the Waco plant and he is not convinced the new plant affluent would be bacteria and germ free. “Once they pollute our creek, it would be ruined forever because the affluent seeps into the ground. Even if they someday removed the plant, it would still take the good Lord the next 2,000 to 3,000 years to fix what had been done. “They won’t answer any of our questions. They stutter around and say they ‘don’t know’ while the TCEQ sits around rolling their eyes. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: WMARRS is a bunch of lying, deceitful and hypocritical scoundrels,” Reyna said. “I will fight this to the bitter end.” |
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Permit process inches forward |
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By Sherry Webb After four long years at a snail’s pace, it is evident the permitting process is finally crawling forward. Dairy permits were issued in the month of September for Keith Broumley Dairy and P&L Dairy. To date, a total of 14 Bosque River CAFOs have received their wastewater renewal permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These 14 permitted CAFOs and those who are still waiting for permit approval should be commended for their dedication and continued efforts to “hang in there” through an ordeal that has been like no other---caused primarily by the City of Waco’s unwarranted complaints and underhanded deeds to destroy a beneficial and economically vital dairy industry. The Texas Association of Dairymen (TAD) Executive Director John Cowan reminds dairymen that TAD has developed a “Common Issues” program that may prove helpful to dairies as they continue to obtain their TCEQ wastewater renewal permits. The program provides assistance to dairymen through a legal document to be shared across the board. For more information on this document and the “Common Issues” program, please call John Cowan, executive director for TAD, 817-410-4540 or 817-999-3871. |
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Ag Expo nearly here |
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The 18th Annual Texas Ag Expo is coming your way soon, so for those planning on renting booth space, reservations need to be made as soon as possible. Texas Ag Expo is scheduled for Wed., Oct. 22 and Thurs., Oct. 23. The two-day event will be open from 10-6 p.m. on the first day and from 10-4 p.m. on the second day. Sponsored by TriCounty Agribusiness Association (TCAA), the show will be at Lone Star Arena, Hwy. 377 north, Stephenville, Texas. The Texas Ag Expo Golf Tournament will be held prior to the show on Tues., Oct. 21, at Legends Golf Course in Stephenville. The foursome scramble starts at 9 a.m., $75 greens fee includes cart and hamburger lunch.
TCAA Executive Director Melissa Proffitt says
this year’s show will bring a variety of exhibits, activities and
jam-packed seminars to give participants the best opportunity possible
to further their businesses and to learn more about topics such as wind
energy solutions, success planning and more. “We’ve also joined with Tarleton State University’s (TSU) Department of Agriculture Services and Development to bring back the Farm Safety 4 Just Kids program,” Proffitt said. Proffitt said numerous exhibitors will be on hand to display their products and services that cover dairy, farm and ranch, equine, and wildlife. On Wednesday, lunch will be provided by Hard 8 BBQ, sponsored by area financial institutions. On Thursday morning, breakfast burritos will be sponsored by Erath County Farm Bureau Insurance and registration for a door prize. At noon on Thursday, Stephenville Chamber Ambassadors will be cooking chili, sponsored by TCAA. |
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New TSU dairy center shapes up |
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By Sherry Webb The much anticipated $11.1 million Tarleton State University (TSU) Dairy Center is taking shape after TSU personnel, administrators and educators met in September to officially “kick off” planning and construction of the state-of-the-art facility. Dr. Don Cawthon, dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences and Dr. Barry Lambert, TSU animal science department head, said specific information regarding the dairy center is still being discussed but will soon be available. “We are very excited to get this center planning process underway,” Lambert said. “Although this will be the only university-affiliated teaching and research dairy in the state that will support extension, outreach and public education/awareness opportunities, we consider it critical to supporting the sustainability of the existing dairy industry in central and northeast Texas as well as the expanding industry in the southern high plains, including the Texas panhandle, New Mexico and other states surrounding Texas,” Cawthon said. “In the near future, we will be engaging companies for the dairy support industries with an opportunity to partner with us as we equip the center,” Lambert said. Key features of the center are housing for 200-400 cows, state-of -the art waste handling procedures and multiple milking parlors utilizing new technologies. Classroom, laboratory and conference facilities will support education, research, and service programs. Also available are plans for an outreach center for public and continuing education with viewing access to key dairy operations and technologies along with human-animal interaction areas. The portion of the facility specifically designed for dairy production will include freestall barns, milking parlors, calf/heifer barn, commodity barn, offices, and observation rooms. An educational building will include classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, computer lab, conference room, covered teaching pavilion, student employee and visiting student dormitory. Research facilities provide for an animal metabolism unit and several laboratories that include ruminant nutrition, DHIA milk/forage analysis, compost analysis, sample processing, reproductive physiology, and toxicology. In general, a biosecurity system will be installed and a dedicated server with web cams in strategic locations to achieve a virtual presence. The overall mission of the TSU Dairy Center is to provide an enabling infrastructural support for teaching, research, and service/outreach programs to meet the needs of higher education, the dairy industry and society in Texas and the southwest region. In an effort to achieve numerous goals, the center will utilize the multi-disciplinary expertise and resources of TSU faculty and program personnel in conjunction with university outreach agreements with external universities and relevant agencies. The center will provide hands-on educational and internship opportunities in agriculture, veterinary medicine, environmental science, natural resource management, food science, engineering and business for undergraduate and graduate students in Texas and the southwestern states. Also available will be resources for basic and applied research in dairy science, environmental science and engineering and field testing of new equipment and technology, and opportunities for continuing education for dairy and service industry representatives. Lambert said the center would not be possible without the help, support and hard work of the Tarleton State University administration and State Rep. Sid Miller. Cawthon added Tarleton State University is pleased that state decision-makers have provided brick and mortar funding for the new dairy center. |
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State Fair of Texas brings fond memories |
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Fall is unmistakably in the air and the two things that come to mind instantly are “football” and the “State Fair of Texas.” The State Fair of Texas offers a variety of outstanding activities and events for people of all ages. If you have never ventured out to the State Fair, make plans to attend it at least one time in your life. It is an unforgettable experience that you will look back on for years to come. This year’s State Fair opened its gates on Fri., Sept. 26 but will run through Oct. 19. Make plans to attend. What a thrill the State Fair is. The wonderful aromas of all kinds of foods penetrate the air while people of every size, shape and form, mill about. Some will be pleasantly smiling while others are dazed and confused trying to decide what to do first. Although I haven’t attended in a years, memories are plentiful and come to mind easily. The first time I went to the State Fair I was very young and attended it with my grandparents. My grandpa thought the fair was the most wonderful thing in the world and you could feel his anticipation as we neared the fair grounds. Upon entering the gates, he would stop, take a look around and break into a big grin as he breathed in the familiar smell of corn dogs and other cholesterol-laden foods that were, and still are, a part of the fairgrounds aura. As I grew older, visiting the fair with family was basically “out” and it became a day of fun and thrills with my high school buddies. My girlfriends and I would spend days preparing for our one “legal” day off from school to go to the State Fair. We would hype ourselves so much, by the time it drew near, we were chatty, ecstatic, and truly “up for it.” As teenagers, the first thing on our minds (besides boys) was junk food and the incredible Midway---probably in that order. As we made our way to the center of the fairgrounds, we passed by those scrumptious-looking Belgium waffles, loaded with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Someone always dragged me away from the stand, saying we “don’t have time for that,” and I always wondered how good those waffles would have been. I have yet to taste a Belgium waffle. I did manage to grab a candied apple that my parents warned me not to eat. First bite and it pulled the crown right off my tooth. I walked around all day carrying that crown in my purse scared to death what they would say when I got home. As we waved a friendly howdy to Big Tex, Jack’s French Fries (that came in a cone) was our next and only food stop for the day. Once we gobbled down our fries, the Midway loomed in the background enticing us to enter if we dared. That’s about the time your knees start to grow weak and your stomach begins to turn as you think of all those scary things that are going to flip you in the air, whirl you around sideways, go up and down, spin ‘round and ‘round or swing back and forth. The thought is nearly as bad as the deed. We usually started with something fairly mild and worked our way up. These rides made us laugh instead of scream: the merry-go-round, the single Ferris wheel, the tilta-whirl, the Octopus, and the bumper cars. (Mild, yes, but you could always count on someone’s already-digested hot dog or snow cone ending up in your face or down your back.) Then came the hammer and the Zinger, and the double-Ferris wheel that petrified me should I end up on top while they loaded someone else. (I always did… and always screamed to get down.) We sometimes found uncanny pleasure at the Freak Show where the two-headed man boldly stared at us as we stared back at him and the Snake Woman performed unimaginable acts with a live boa. The Fun House was fun… and the House of Mirrors was even more fun. The Cotton Club Revue was a must and a lively roosting place where we took in the show girls and their flashy costumes that needed a good washing. We tried our luck at many games---usually to no avail. It didn’t take long to figure out throwing a ball or two only got us empty promises that guaranteed a prize we never won. So, we didn’t linger there for long. We were saving our “all and all” for the thrill of the day---the very epitome of the entire day’s events---and the one reason we had come to the State Fair. As we drew closer, we could hear the muffled yet unmistakable sound of its wheels grinding on metal rails as it made its way slowly to the top of its very existence. This stupendous structure of wood and metal gigantically stood before us reeking with unfulfilled excitement. Should we, or shouldn’t we? We would. We hesitantly gave the man our ticket and boarded this magnificent piece of machinery that would soon take us zipping and dashing up and down the tracks and around the bends in a sideways fashion. Its heavy-ladened breathing penetrated our ears as it labored to carry us up, up, up the track. As we neared the top, its motion was slow and antagonizing. When we finally reached the top, it crested high in the sky as it seemed to pause and teeter for several seconds. The next sound we heard was our own panicked screams as our horror-stricken fears sprang to life. Peeking behind hands that covered our faces, the long track loomed before us as the realization sunk in. Suddenly, we were zooming down the track, whirling into space as the momentum heightened. The world turned black. I never saw what happened after that. I could only feel the thrill in the pit of my stomach that only a roller coaster can bring. |
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Todd Bilby new Dairy Specialist |
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Dr. Todd Bilby, associate professor and Texas A&M Extension Dairy Specialist, began his new duties at Texas AgriLife Research and Extension center in Stephenville on August 18. Prior to his Stephenville position, Bilby was Extension Specialist at the University of Arizona in Tucson and in earlier years worked as area market manager for Monsanto Company based in Fresno, California. The majority of Bilby’s duties as Extension Dairy Specialist will be directed toward extension activities, leadership and coordination for Extension educational programs in dairy management via applied research, result demonstrations, tours, workshops and field days. Bilby will provide technical expertise, training, teaching materials for county Extension agents, specialists, clientele and organizations across the state. He will work both individually and as a team member in planning, executing and evaluating result demonstration tours, field days and seminars and will develop and maintain close communication strategies with the Texas dairy industry through associations, boards, cooperatives and individual producers. Bilby’s research activities will include integrating categories of cattle management, reproduction, nutrition, and heat abatement. Special emphasis is given to designing strategies to maximize profit for dairy producers. Areas of research involve heat abatement strategies for cooling cows in the southwest and management strategies to improve overall dairy cow performance. This includes, but not limited to, refining timed artificial insemination protocols, nutritional and cooling strategies to improve heat loss/abatement, and ways to improve summer fertility. |
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