CoBank closes merger with U.S. AgBank
January 19, 2012
CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses, rural infrastructure providers and Farm Credit associations throughout the United States, announced that it has successfully completed its merger with Wichita-based U.S. AgBank.
The merger, which formally closed on January 1, 2012, creates an $85 billion financial services institution that serves as a leading source of credit to the U.S. rural economy. The combined bank's customer base includes agricultural cooperatives and rural power, water and communications service providers in all 50 states. In addition, the bank offers wholesale financing to 29 Farm Credit associations that provide loans and financial services to more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in the west, northwest, southwest, central and northeastern parts of the country. Read more.
Commercial Fertilizer 2010 Report
January 19, 2012
The 2010 edition of the Commercial Fertilizers report has been finalized and copies are available for purchase. Commercial Fertilizers 2010 is a cooperative effort between The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) and is based on fertilizer consumption data submitted by state fertilizer control officials. The report’s basic findings show a 17.9 percent increase in U.S. fertilizer nutrient consumption to 20.843 million short tons for the fertilizer year (FY) ending June 30, 2010.
Specifically, the report found that in FY 2009/10 nitrogen consumption increased 7.2 percent to 12.285 million nutrient tons (MNT), phosphate consumption increased 30.7 percent to 4.099 MNT and potash consumption increased 44.7 percent to 4.458 MNT. The report also found that gross tonnage increased 18.4 percent to 55.837 million tons of material. That figure includes single, multiple and micro-nutrient materials, as well as organic and secondary materials. Click here for a summary by major material for the United States for FY 2008/09 and FY 2009/10.
Hard copies of the report can be ordered by completing the attached order form or going to TFI’s website at www.tfi.org. The report is not available in electronic format. The cost of the report is $30 per copy for members of TFI and AAPFCO and $100 per copy for non-members. All proceeds from the sale of the report go to AAPFCO to support the data collection effort.
Defects reported on American Welding & Tank nurse tanks December 22, 2011
The Agricultural Retailers Association informed KARA this week that there have been some defects reported on nurse tanks manufactured by American Welding & Tank between June 2009 and September 2010. Click here to view information from American Welding & Tank, LLC on inspection of these nurse tanks and the extended warranty being offered.
KARA works with KDA and KDOL on NH3 bulk storage December 22, 2011
The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) recently announced that bulk storage tanks that were not decaled during their recent 2011 inspection due to being a railcar tank that does not have a data plate or a 200 psi tank, will be receiving a decal in the mail that will allow for tank usage through December 31, 2012.
KARA will continue to work with KDA and the Kansas Department of Labor to find testing procedures that allow these tanks to be compliant beyond December 2012 and do not cause undo economic hardship to the agribusiness industry.
EPA issues Pesticide General Permit fact sheet for Region 7 November 23, 2011
On October 31, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide General Permit for point source discharges from the application of pesticides to waters of the United States. This was in response to a decision by the federal court in the case of National Cotton Council, et al. v. EPA. EPA’s general permit covers operators who apply pesticides that result in discharges into waters of the U.S. from mosquito and other flying insect pest control; aquatic weed control, such as cattails and algae control; aquatic animal pest control, such as zebra mussels; and forest canopy pest control. Most farmers in Region 7, which consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and nine tribal nations, are not involved in these types of pesticide applications.
EPA has taken the initiative to develop a general permit to provide permit coverage for this broad group of applicators rather than have each applicator apply for an individual permit. EPA will use this permit for tribes in Region 7 where EPA implements the NPDES program. Read more.
Kansas applicator Michael Spade named finalist for AGCO’s Operator of the Year November 23, 2011
AGCO Application Equipment received numerous nominations throughout North America and has selected Michael Spade as one of four finalists for the 2011 Operator of the Year award. Spade is an applicator with Harveyville Seed Co. in Harveyville, Kan. Operator of the Year is an annual program that recognizes the outstanding achievements and professionalism of the industry’s premier custom applicators of crop nutrients and protective chemicals.
Spade is traveling this week with three other finalists to Boca Raton, Fla., as guests of AGCO to attend the Agriculture Retailers Association 2011 Meeting and Exposition. There, they will discover who among them will receive top honors and a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
“Custom applicators spend long hours in the field, playing an important role in crop production,” explains Mark Sharitz, AGCO Application Equipment director of marketing. “Through Operator of the Year, we recognize the hard work and dedication of folks like Michael who have made a positive impression both on and off the field.”
Being an applicator does not start and stop at the field for Spade. His sincerity and continuous pursuit of excellence in every aspect of the job translates into new and repeat customers. He is a state-certified custom applicator who is working to achieve Certified Crop Advisor status. Spade regularly attends workshops and meetings to further his knowledge of the products and the issues and trends affecting the application business. Spade is an active member of his church. He has served as a city council member and on the board of directors for North Lyon County Youth Association.
Judging criteria for Operator of the Year includes exceptional service, professionalism, personal character and community enrichment. All nominees will receive a certificate recognizing their nomination for this prestigious award.
A panel of judges selected the four finalists from a nationwide call for entries. Dustin Kuntz, who works with Spade, submitted the nomination.
“Michael is an example of the values and integrity often remembered in simpler times gone by and forgotten in today’s society,” says Kuntz. “If he found a $20 bill while spraying your field, he’d stop by the house on the way out to see if it was yours. Michael’s simply a great applicator and great employee. We are lucky to have him work for us, but most importantly, I am blessed to have him as a friend.”
KARA attends DHS AN Security Public Listening Session October 27, 2011
Ron Seeber, KARA VP of Government Affairs, attended the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ammonium Nitrate (AN) Security Program Public Listening Session in Kansas City yesterday. This was one of several public listening sessions being held across the country this fall.
The current DHS proposed regulation goes well beyond the intent of Congress and industry as it appears to be more of a perpetual registration and vetting program rather than registering the AN facilities and AN purchasers buying and selling the product.
The Agricultural Retailers Association and The Fertilizer Institute have been working with other agricultural organizations on written comments that will be submitted to DHS by the Dec. 1, 2011 deadline.
mySPCC tools ready for the November 10 deadline October 27, 2011
U.S. EPA’s Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Program will take effect on November 10, 2011. The SPCC rule requires locations with 1,320 gallons or more of oil products to prepare a SPCC plan. The November deadline is an expansion of the original SPCC rule and includes all agricultural facilities, including retailers and farms.
mySPCC Suite of Guidance Materials is supported by U.S. EPA for use with agricultural facilities such as retailers and farms. U.S. EPA awarded a grant of $20,000 to the Asmark Institute for allowing the free use of the new mySPCC tools to the agricultural industry. Work actually began in December 2006 when the Asmark Institute was asked to partner with The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) to develop two state-of-the-art web-based tools to help facilities comply with the SPCC requirements. U.S. EPA provided input along the way and reviewed the tools before deciding to provide support.
As a reminder, facilities with 10,001 gallons or more of oil products should already have a full SPCC plan prepared by a professional engineer (P.E.) and implemented. mySPCC can be accessed via Asmark Institute’s website at www.asmark.org/mySPCC.
