The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rules as they apply to farms and will seek public comment on the proposal.

EPA, citing a need to improve clarity of the rules and to tailor certain requirements toward farms to increase compliance, said the SPCC rule applies to owners, operators or farmers who store, transfer, use or consume oil or oil products, such as gasoline, heating oil, off-road diesel, on-road diesel and lubrication/hydraulic oils. Other products include animal fats and vegetable oils above “applicable thresholds,” and may discharge oil into U.S. waterways.

The applicable thresholds for facilities subject to the SPCC rule are above-ground storage capacity (counting only containers with a capacity of 55 gallons or greater than 1,320 gallons) or completely buried oil storage greater than 42,000 gallons.

Farmers whose operations are above the allowable threshold are urged to maintain their existing plans until the EPA specifies a definite compliance date for farms.

EPA also is clarifying in the preamble to the proposed amendments that farm nurse tanks are considered mobile refuelers under the SPCC rule amendments finalized in December 2006 and are, therefore, exempt from the specifically sized containment requirements for bulk storage containers.

For more information on the proposed rule amendments, please visit www.epa.gov/emergencies. Please submit your comments on the proposed amendments to www.regulations.gov.

For specific questions, contact the EPA helpline at 1-800-424-9346.

Brock names new manager
David Wernsing has been named strategic accounts manager for Brock Grain Systems. Wernsing will be working closely with grain companies, ethanol producers and national design/building firms to market Brock’s full line of grain handling, storage, conditioning and drying products as well as helping them integrate Brock’s products into their facilities and projects.

Brock Grain Systems is part of CBT, Inc., a designer, manufacturer and marketer of systems and solutions for the poultry, hog, egg production and grain industries.

Its line of products focuses on improved efficiency in the care of poultry and livestock as well as on grain storage, conditioning and handling.

For more information about the Brock products, visit www.brockgrain.com.

Demand strong for CL varieties
Due to unexpected seed shortages last season, red rice enjoyed a stellar comeback on many fields, and in 2008, rice farmers need the economic and efficient weed control offered by Clearfield varieties.

“In 2008, farmers can get back to cleaning up fields with proven Clearfield rice varieties that offer good yields, milling quality and the highest tolerance to Newpath herbicide on the market,” says Randy Ouzts, general manager of Horizon Ag. “There is a good supply of Horizon Ag Clearfield rice varieties for the coming season. Interest has been great this fall, and bookings are happening early for both CL161 and CL171-AR across the rice belt.”

Launched in 2007, CL171-AR has demonstrated very desirable characteristics on a broad-acre basis, including high yield potential, superior straw strength, excellent herbicide tolerance and high cup weights at harvest.

Preliminary milling yields on CL171-AR have been very encouraging. Many farmers have reported very good yield performance in 2007 with yields as high as 212 dry bushels per acre in Missouri.

Another Clearfield variety in good supply for 2008 is CL161, the product that set the standard for yield, milling and herbicide tolerance in Clearfield rice. CL161 has been proven over one million acres since it was launched and provides the yield, milling and weed control stability rice farmers need to be successful.

“We are working with all of our seed processors to see that Clearfield rice variety lots meet all federal and state standards for the 2008 season,” Ouzts says.

“Both CL171-AR and CL161 varieties have been proven on large-scale acres with consistent results, and the demand for the 2008 season is strong,” he adds.

Bob Odom retires
Surrounded by family, staff and supporters, long-time Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Bob Odom recently announced his retirement.

“For 28 years, I’ve served the people of this state with pride and dignity,” Odom says. “I’ve accomplished many things, and I will retire knowing that I’ve done the best job possible for the agriculture and forestry industries in Louisiana.”

His retirement is effective Jan. 14, 2008.

Ray Young, a farmer and agriculture consultant from Wisner, introduced the Commissioner by saying, “Bob Odom is the best Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Louisiana has ever had.”

Young has known Commissioner Odom both professionally and personally for almost 40 years.

Commissioner Odom will continue to work at the state and national level on behalf of Louisiana agriculture and forestry and its interests.

CRV announces rice varieties
Cache River Valley Seed, LLC, (CRV) says its rice seed is planted by top growers in the area. Production fields are monitored throughout the growing season by its agronomist and seed certification manager for off-types, red rice and other noxious weeds. As a general rule, all certified seed is rogued three times, and all registered seed fields are rogued four times.

For the 2008 planting season, CRV will offer the following varieties: Bengal, CL161, CL171-AR, Cocodrie, Cybonnet, Francis, Jupiter and Wells.

The seed is conditioned using a Cimbria Delta 108 Seed Cleaner. After the cleaner, the seed is then processed over an LMC Gravity Table. The seed is then run through Carter Disc Machines to remove cracked seed. The long grain rice is then run through a precision grinder to insure against medium grain, off-types and red rice.

Helping farmers manage risk
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is sponsoring five farm management workshops in eastern Arkansas Dec. 5-12 on managing production, financial and marketing risks. The workshops are for farmers, landowners, bankers, accountants, lawyers and ag business people.

The workshops will feature discussions by ag industry and university specialists on topics including machinery economics, agricultural financial management, crop budgeting and production costs, farm policy, grain basis and commodity marketing.

“Producers will learn how our new farm policy is taking shape and how much support commodities will get from Washington,” says Scott Stiles, Extension risk management economist. “A big issue farmers are concerned about is grain basis. We’ll have industry speakers come in and discuss how basis is calculated and the issues affecting basis. It’s a hot topic in grain markets.”

Speakers will also address the economics of new cotton harvesting and precision agriculture equipment, crop budgeting and the outlook for 2008 production costs and farm financial issues. Another key topic for discussion is 2008 commodity prices.

The dates and locations are as follows:
• Dumas, Dec. 5: Dumas Community Center. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and concludes with lunch.
• Stuttgart, Dec. 6: UA Phillips Community College. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and concludes with lunch.
• Newport, Dec. 10: ASU Newport. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and then concludes with lunch.
• Forrest City, Dec. 11: East Arkansas Community College. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and concludes with lunch.
• Keiser, Dec. 12. Northeast Research Extension Center. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and concludes with lunch.

Continuing Professional Education credits are available for Arkansas certified crop advisors, certified public accountants and accredited members of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

There is no cost to attend. You can register by calling Brenda Duggins at (501) 671-2347 or register online at www.aragriculture.org/crops/risk_management/seminar_information.htm.