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VOLUME XXI, NO. 1 |
TEXAS DAIRY & AG REVIEW |
January 2012 |
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Texas NPDES For Dairy CAFOs Already In Place For New EPA Reporting Rule Drought-Ridden Cattle Means Less Calves & Tighter Supplies In 2012 CEU’s Offered At Improved Forages And Cotton Management Seminars Coming Up In January And February Drought & Fires Cause Texas Farmers To Look To Alternative Crops Saint Gobain Connective Plastic Tubing Solutions Plays Big Role In Dairy Industry Food And Shopping Trend Predictions For 2012 FDA Milk Sampling Program Begins
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Texas NPDES for dairy CAFOs already in place for new EPA Reporting Rule |
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By Sherry Webb Regarding state or federal agencies, it is always important dairy producers are aware of any new proposed regulatory activities or actions. Due to past experiences with various government entities, producers know it is always best to stay abreast of “what’s going on” and to keep ahead of the game when possible. Last fall, the EPA signed the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Reporting Rule that proposes two regulatory options for CAFOs. The rule basically requires facility-specific information be submitted to the EPA to enhance its knowledge of CAFO operations and to implement the NPDES program in all states. This information survey would ensure the EPA that CAFOs are meeting the appropriate practices to improve water quality protection, as cited in the Clean Water Act (CWA). Fortunately, the state of Texas currently has its dairy Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits in place. Norm Mullin, consultant for Enviro-Ag Engineering, Inc., Amarillo, said several years ago, the EPA delegated to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) the authority to carry out certain EPA actions, such as permitting, monitoring and enforcement responsibilities. Mullin said since Texas is an EPA delegated state, dairy CAFO producers fill out the same EPA information as requested in the new proposed reporting rule in an annual report submitted to the TCEQ every February 15th. He said the state already has CAFO and NPDES information in its files and it is available to the EPA. Not all states are EPA delegated although some are currently applying for this status. The state of Oklahoma is currently pursuing its EPA delegated authority, said Dan Parrish, director of the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture, food, and forestry, agricultural environmental management services division. Parrish said according to EPA’s timeline and current correspondence from the agency, EPA delegated approval for Oklahoma should be received by February 2012. Proposed Reporting Rule Under the new EPA Proposed Reporting Rule, the two options are as follows: Option 1.) Every CAFO is to report information to the EPA unless states (such as Texas) with authorized NPDES programs, choose to voluntarily provide this information on behalf of the CAFOs in their state. Option 2.) Every CAFO in focus watersheds that have water quality concerns associated with CAFOs, report the requested information to the EPA. Additional criteria for identifying focus watersheds includes high priority watersheds, patterns of vulnerable soils, high densities of animals, and other relevant information such as proximity to environmental justice communities The EPA is requesting public comment on both proposed rule options for gathering the information identified in the proposal and the alternative approaches to achieve water quality protection. EPA plans to take final action regarding the proposed rule by July 2012. The rule’s progress can be followed on EPA’s Rulemaking Gateway at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/RuleGate.nsf/ byRIN/2040-AF22?opendocument. The EPA Survey Form The EPA survey form for both options may be completed and provided to the EPA online by using an online information management system or, the owner or operator may complete and mail to the EPA a hard copy of the survey form. The survey form collects the following information: contact information, location of the CAFO’s production area, whether the operation has NPDES permit coverage, the number and type of animals held in confinement, and the number of acres available for land application of manure. Both options would apply to unpermitted and permitted CAFOs. Public Comment EPA also is seeking comment on alternative approaches for achieving improved water quality protection: 1.) Use of Existing Data Sources: The EPA would gather information from existing sources in lieu of requesting CAFOs to report under section 308 of the CWA. Such data sources would include the U.S. Department of Agriculture Ag Census, state data/mapping, satellite images/aerial photography, and the EPA’s Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS); 2.) Alternative Mechanisms for Promoting Environmental Stewardship and Compliance: EPA would expand its network of compliance assistance, outreach tools and partnerships with industry to assist in addressing the most significant water quality problems. Comprehensive compliance assistance and outreach efforts are tools a regulatory program can use in partnerships with industry to proactively protect and maintain water quality; 3.) State Reporting: The EPA would require state NPDES regulatory agencies to submit available information on CAFOs and only require CAFOs to report where states fail to provide the necessary information. Public Involvement The Agency will take public comment on the proposal for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0188, may be submitted by one of the following methods: 1.) online at www.regulations.gov; 2.) E-mail to ow-docket@epa.gov; 3.) Fax to 202-566-9744; 4.) Mail to Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20460; 5.) Hand Delivery or Courier to EPA Docket Center, 1301, Constitution Ave., NW, Room 3334, Washington, D.C. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. During the public comment period, EPA will hold several webcasts to provide an overview of the proposed rule requirements and answer questions about the proposed rule. For more information, copies of the fact sheet and the Federal Register notice can be downloaded frtp://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=7; or call Becky Mitschele of EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management at 202-564-6418; or email at mitschele.becky@epa.gov.
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Drought-ridden cattle means less calves & tighter supplies in 2012 |
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A classic case of supply and demand is predicted for the cattle market in 2012, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist. Declining cow numbers due to drought will lead to fewer calves, causing tighter supplies across the U.S., said Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension livestock economist. Anderson forecasts strong cattle prices for 2012. The historic drought in Texas has caused a decline of more than 600,000 cows, which will lead to fewer calves marketed next year. “I think we will continue to maintain historically high prices,” Anderson said recently at the Brock Faulkner-Brazos Valley Fall Cattleman’s Clinic in Bryan. He said his 2012 target prices for 600 pound steers are $131-$138 per hundredweight during the first quarter, $136-$144 in the second quarter, $137-$147 in the third quarter and $133-$143 in the fourth quarter. Anderson said the historic drought this year marked the biggest one-year decline in Texas cow numbers ever with more than 600,000 sold by cattle producers meaning fewer cows and calves, points to higher prices. Cattle on feed numbers are high, which is consistent with a drought, Anderson said. Feedlots have been “staying current,” he said, selling animals to packing operations at a steady clip. Meanwhile, slaughter steer prices hit a high of $125 per hundredweight in April and a low of $105 in June. “They went back up to $119 per hundredweight in October,” Anderson said. “That’s likely the result of buyers making sure enough beef is in grocery stores to satisfy first-of-the-month specials. Prices shoot forward, then back off as grocery outlets buy what they need, then pull back due to the economy.” In Texas, a 12 percent decline in 2011 in beef cow inventory is the second largest decline in history since 1934-1935 (18 percent), as 550,000 head of cows were sold off during that time. In 1996, a decline of approximately 400,000 cows was recorded during that drought year, Anderson said. “In 2012, beef production is predicted to be down four percent,” he said. The choice-select spread has choice beef selling for “huge amounts” more than select because exports are booming.“We have growing demand for choice beef,” he said. Wal-Mart, the largest grocery retail outlet in the U.S., is also selling more choice beef, Anderson added. Trends of consumer buying patterns indicate during the beginning of the recession in 2008 consumers were trying to “stretch their dollar by buying more hamburger,” he said. “As a result, hamburger, chuck and rounds have reached record prices.” However, Anderson reported there has been a growing demand for steaks, “so perhaps the economy is not as bad as some might think since there is some willingness to buy more steaks.” *Texas AgriLife Extension Service |
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CEU’s offered at improved forages and cotton management seminars coming up in January and February |
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Basics of soil science for dairy farmersTexas AgriLife Extension Service will host "The Basics of Soil Science for Dairy Farmers" seminar on Jan. 24, 2012 at the Southwest Regional Dairy Center in Stephenville. Registration will begin at 9:45 a.m. and the program will begin promptly at 10 a.m. It will conclude with a sponsored lunch at noon. Meeting participants will receive two hours of DOPA credits and one hour of general towards their TDA private applicator’s license. Dr. Justin Tuggle, owner of Crop Docs, an agronomy consulting firm, will discuss the basics of soil science. Topics will include information on how balanced soil fertility impacts plant growth; how nutrients move through the soil; how plants utilize certain nutrients and how imbalances in soil fertility affect plant growth. The goal of this meeting is to assist producers in maximizing forage production in their improved grass fields as well as cultivated crops and how fertility will play a role in drought recovery. Participants are asked to RSVP by calling the Extension Office in Erath County at 254-965-1460 or e-mail Whit Weems @ w-weems@tamu.edu by Jan. 20. Multi county cotton management seminar Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Comanche, Earth and Eastland County will host a Cotton Management Seminar on Feb. 2, at the Hwy. 6 Cafe in DeLeon. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the program will start at 10 a.m. A sponsored meal will be provided at Noon and the meeting will conclude at 3 p.m. Producers in attendance will receive two hours of CEU's toward their private applicator’s license. Dr. Gaylon Morgan, state cotton specialist, will discuss variety selection and provide discussion on the variety trial conducted across the state. Dr. Paul Bauman, Extension weed specialist will provide information on weed management for cotton production including management plans to avoid glyphosate resistance weed development. Dr. John Robinson, state cotton economist, will discuss market outlooks and marketing your cotton in 2012. Dr. Todd Baughman, agronomist and program coordinator with Oklahoma State University, will discuss several topics including water requirements, fertility issues and strip till versus conventional versus no till production. Participants are asked to RSVP by Mon., Jan. 30, by calling the Erath County Extension Office at 254-965-1460, Comanche County Extension Office at 325-356-2539 or the Eastland County Extension Office at 254-629-1093. |
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Drought & fires cause Texas farmers to look to alternative crops |
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After a year of drought and wildfire, many Texas farmers will be looking to try alternative crops to supplement income, according to experts with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Dr. Rob Duncan, AgriLife Extension small grains specialist, said that crops like canola and sunflower are receiving more attention by farmers. These represent alternative crops that can be incorporated into a traditional crop portfolio of cotton, corn and sorghum, he said in an agency report. “Sunflower is a crop that both Texas AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension Service are doing lots of work on,” he said. “Farmers who are incorporating this into their crop rotation are seeing some positive economic benefits.” Castor is another crop that has a high demand for manufacturing plants in the U.S. Duncan said that 100 percent of castor is imported, most from India. "This could be an additional revenue stream for Texas farmers, but we still have a lot of things that need to be worked out with regards to best management practices,” he added. Producers can learn more about alternative crop production online at http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/oilseed. |
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Saint Gobain connective plastic tubing solutions plays big role in dairy industry By Sherry Webb
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When folks drive by the Saint Gobain location in Stephenville, Texas, it may not occur to them that Erath County, the number one milk producing county in Texas, employs a company that has been a recognized leader in the dairy industry for more than 50 years. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics (SGPPL) provides the dairy industry the latest in high quality and high-performance products and solutions. At the heart of SGPPL’s solutions is a dedication to improving the performance of dairy processing and transfer applications without sacrificing product quality or safety. SGPPL’s Transflow® Dairy Tubing was produced specifically for the industry and comes embedded with Saint-Gobain’s Blue Stripe™, which serves as a guarantee to its customers that the product meets FDA requirements for raw milk handling and the 3-A Plastic Standards. Many regulatory sanitarians throughout the world recognize Transflow® as the preferred tubing for raw milk transfer. Connective solutions are employed in all stages of the dairy process---from the dairy farms, to tanker trucks, to plant storage, and within the plant itself---and it is critical they perform as needed while maintaining the integrity of the products they carry. Dairy producers are very aware clean tubing and connections are a vital element in maintaining a low Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in their dairy herds. It is reassuring to know SGPPL is committed to providing the dairy industry with the best solutions available and has focused strongly on the inner surfaces of the company’s Tygon® and Transflow® tubings. It is important these surfaces are as smooth as possible to help prevent the adhesion of any foreign substances and will also facilitate in the cleaning process. Saint-Gobain offers a range of advanced solutions for both dairy product transfer and processing to ensure product safety while reducing total systems costs, maintenance and repair expenses, resulting in minimized operations downtime. Dairy Product Transfer SGPPL’s solutions for dairy product transfer combine the Transflow® line of tubing, high-performance Gladiator® hoses, and ReSeal® fittings. They can be used in all stages of the dairy transfer process. Transflow® tubing minimizes the potential for bacterial growth, promoting a safe and sanitary fluid path, due to a smooth, non-porous inner surface that is less susceptible to particle entrapment. Designed for convenience and long service life, Transflow® tubing is extremely flexible and easy to install around milk handling equipment. The tubing’s transparent surface permits detection of equipment deficiencies such as backflow of milk into the air lines while resisting the damage caused by oxidation. TransFlow® tubing has a smooth inner bore that prevents the build up of microbes, ensuring the product remains untainted as well as making it much easier to clean the tube regularly. TransFlow® tubing can also be UV-resistant, so the milk is unaffected by sunlight during transfer, and all hoses and tubing impart no taste of their own, so the milk retains its own distinct flavor. The crush-resistant Gladiator® hoses are rated for high-pressures. They guarantee a secure and flexible connection between systems and pipes for loading and unloading raw products in high-traffic areas. SGPPL’s solutions for dairy transfer have been created with ease-of-use in mind. Designed for Clean-In-Place (CIP) convenience, no disassembly is required, minimizing operational downtime and associated costs. Dairy Processing SGPPL’s solutions for dairy processing incorporate SaniGard® hosing and ReSeal® fittings to ensure optimum performance under the high pressures and temperatures associated with these operations. SaniGard® hoses are specifically designed for higher temperatures and demanding applications. They can withstand frequent cleaning without imparting taste or odor. SGPPL’s ReSeal® fittings are designed to replace the crimped fittings that are permanently attached to the ends of hoses and that must be discarded when the hose is worn out---a great waste of resources as the stainless steel fitting has much more life left in it. ReSeal® fittings can be removed from the hose and reattached to new hoses for multiple use. Dairies can easily see savings of up to 50% in this way. FDA’s FSMA In January, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law. This reflected a change in the FDA’s approach to food safety by requiring food facilities to more strictly evaluate the hazards in their operations and implement effective measures to prevent contamination. SGPPL experts continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining the safety and integrity of connections between dairy systems and operations. “Food safety is a pivotal issue and one that will always be at the forefront of the dairy industry,” said Damien Canac, global marketing manager, food and beverages, process systems business unit at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. “Using our familiarity with and experience in this industry, SGPPL is committed to enhancing the safe consumption of dairy products through constant innovation and partnership with our customers.” SGPPL is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain Corporation, one of the top 100 industrial companies in the world and a leading producer of construction products, flat glass, high-performance materials and packaging. SGPPL produces critical connections through a broad range of customized material solutions and capabilities to help customers achieve safety, performance and brand assurance in the aerospace, chemical and food & beverage industries. Historically, Saint-Gobain was founded in 1665 by Louis XIV to supply mirrors to the Palace of Versailles in France. Since then, the group has expanded to many different activities, always with a dedication to building and construction materials. The group’s culture of excellence and its strong emphasis on research and development has positioned Saint-Gobain as a leader in its different markets. |
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According to the FitGal website, these top 10 food trends for 2012, predicted by 10 different food-related organizations, are expected to have a major impact on eating and shopping habits for the next year. 1) Double-Sided Menus: Mintel Group, Ltd. This forecasting group says that restaurant menus are going to become “double-sided” because of rising health concerns among customers. More menus will offer healthy options, as well as sinful indulgences, with premium and value pricing on opposite sides of the menus. 2) Xtreme Home Cooking: Phil Lempert's Supermarket News The Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert has put his focus on “Xtreme Home Cooking”, in which, he says, people will work hard to cook an ultimate “value meal” in their own kitchens instead of going out to eat. People will start putting more emphasis on cost-effectiveness and taste rather than convenience. In addition, manufacturers will develop products that are more devoted to health and wellness. 3) Smaller Portions: Small Business Food Trends This group predicts that restaurant owners will look toward serving smaller portions on their menus. Customers will love this shift, since diners love to share what they are eating and most of them are now health-conscious about portions. Moreover, this will allow chefs to be able to experiment with new ingredients and cooking methods, without bearing the burden of too much cost. 4) More "Free From" Foods: Leatherhead Food Research According to this group of dieticians, “free-from” foods are going to be one of the top 10 food trends of 2012. Be it gluten, lactose, soy or nuts, something or the other will continue to remain absent from packaged food items. This is a result of the growing number of health and nutrition conscious members of our population. 5) More Demand for Pure: Functional Ingredients and Nutraceuticals World Both these groups claim that the customers will continue to look for “pure” labels. Pure will become the new “natural”. This, in turn, will result in food manufacturing becoming more ethical, less wasteful, and more authentic. 6) Shopping Schizophrenia: The Food Channel Another key trend for 2012 is “Shopping Schizophrenia”, which means the reoccurrence of specialty food shops like those of butchers, patisseries, etc, which would provide a more intimate shopping experience for customers compared to supermarkets. 7) Kid Customers: National Restaurant Association Kids will become more valued customers, if NRA’s vision 2012 is anything to go by. This means, more healthy kids’ menu options, children’s nutrition becoming more important at restaurants and smaller versions of adult meals being served to kids. We're hoping that McDonald’s will learn a thing or two from this. 8) Lifestyle Changes - American Council on Exercise Weight loss will gain a whole new meaning in 2012, and it will probably go by the name of “lifestyle coaching.” This is something all trainers and dieticians have been emphasizing for years. Permanent weight loss is not just about pumping iron and eating veggies. It requires a complete lifestyle makeover. More people will begin to understand this in 2012. |
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) milk residue survey project is now underway. The FDA residue survey involves the collection of a total of nearly 2,000 universal milk samples at central milk testing laboratories: 900 milk samples from dairy producers with a cull dairy cow tissue residue violation, and another 900 random milk samples. FDA will have the samples blinded at the central laboratories, and then shipped to the Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) at Illinois Institute of Technology. The milk samples will then be shipped to FDA laboratories for analysis. The milk samples will be tested for about 30 different antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory residues which may include the following: Ampicillin, Cephapirin, Cloxacillin, Penicillin G, Erythromycin, Tylosin, Ciprofloxacin, Sarafloxacin, Chlortetracycline, Oxytetracycline, Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Sulfachloropyridazine, Sulfadiazine, Sulfamerazine, Sulfadimethoxine,Sulfamethazine, Sulfaquinoxaline, Sulfathiazole, Tripelennamine,Thiabendazole, Pirlimycin, Flunixin, Bacitracin, Virginiamycin, Tilmicosin, Neomycin, Gentamicin, Florfenicol, Chloramphenicol and Tulathromycin. NMPF anticipates that the sampling and laboratory analysis will take about one year. As a reminder, the NMPF Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is available on the National Dairy FARM Program website. |
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