Wisconsin Agri-Service Association (WASA) staff recently met with senior WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) officials and reviewed the 1999 calendar year Wisconsin feed mill inspection record. DATCP inspected 162 feed manufacturing firms in the past year and found almost 50% of them had at least one or more violations of labeling and/or good manufacturing practices regulations. These violations included record keeping, such as production and drug inventories, and sanitation. Of the firms with multiple violations, about half were deemed serious enough by DATCP to warrant a formal written warning notice. These violations included seriously mislabeled feed samples.

DATCP believes these non-compliance levels, specifically those regarding labeling issues, have increased in recent years. They also believe the current system of a "carrot and stick" approach is providing little, if any, incentive for the industry statewide to increase compliance with current rules and regs. The Department thinks the answer lies in the increased leveling of fines and use of "holding orders." Holding orders basically hold a batch of feed at the mill and does not allow it to be moved, even off a loading dock. The net effect is to drastically curtail or even shut down an operation. It was pointed out to DATCP that labeling rules, no matter how well intentioned, are by-and-large viewed by livestock feeders as unnecessary and a waste of time. If the customer didn’t trust the feed mill’s integrity or competence, the customer would simply stop frequenting that mill. Coupled with feed manufacturers experiencing greater costs because of labeling; you have a recipe for non-compliance. The road to greater feed mill compliance with the rules, it was also pointed out, should be based on garnering greater acceptance of the program by the feed buying consumers which would "push" their dealers into compliance. The wholesale leveling of fines and use of orders would simply force many of the smaller mills out of business, speed further consolidation of the industry and raise the cost to the feed buyer.

WASA and its membership want a healthy and growing feed industry. We are committed to working toward a business environment that rewards good management practices and customer satisfaction as the arbiter of a business’ success rather than a regulatory fine. Of course, the Association, like everyone else, wants a safe and reliable feed supply chain, but the method to achieve this is by means of guidance and education of both the manufacturer and the buyer.

Ever wondered how the corn and soybeans you ship to the rivers travels? Well, you’ll have a chance to find out next month. WASA, along with the Wisconsin Corn Growers and the Wisconsin Soybean Program and others, is sponsoring the second year of barge tours on both the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Each tour gives you and producers a chance to see firsthand the need to maintain an efficient system of locks and dams to replace the current system built in the 1930’s. In addition, to highlight the need for improvements, legislators and members of the media will also be on the tour. This is a great chance to get commercial ag’s story told.

The Illinois tour is Thursday, August 10. A bus has been chartered to travel from Madison at 8:30 AM to Ottawa, Illinois. About three and a half-hours will be spent on a barge traveling the river, having lunch on the barge and passing through a lock. A return to Madison is scheduled for around 7 PM that day.

 A smaller tour is set for August 30 on the Mississippi at LaCrosse. A double-decked river tour boat will take the tour participants on a three-hour trip through a lock including lunch. The tour is scheduled to leave the dock at 9AM in LaCrosse.

This really is a unique opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. There is no charge, but space is limited and registration is on a first come, first served basis. For further information and details, call the WASA office or the Wisconsin Corn Growers at (262) 495-2232.

WASA is pleased to announce the 2000 recipients of the Eldon Roesler Scholarships. Six scholarships were awarded this year instead of the usual four due to the continued success of the WASA Golf "Fore" Scholarships fund-raisers. This year’s recipients are Tracy Smithback, Regina Schaefer, Kristi Orchard, Melissa Goers, Christy Brewer, Andrew Schraufnagel.

Tracy Smithback is the daughter of David and Tammie Smithback of Deerfield, Wisconsin. Tracy is currently studying Agronomy and Agricultural Journalism at the University of Wisconsin – Madison College of Agriculture and Life Science. Her future plans include working with farmers one-on-one to improve their crops and to eventually farm herself.

Regina Schaefer is the daughter of Robert and Sharon Schaefer of Marshfield, Wisconsin. Regina is currently majoring in Agricultural Education and minoring in Animal Science at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. She plans to become an Agricultural Instructor working with teenagers in the agricultural industry.

Kristi Lynn Orchard is the daughter of William and Kathleen Orchard of Eagle, Wisconsin. Kristi is currently enrolled as a Dairy Science student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She has been accepted to the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and will be enrolled as a veterinary medicine student this fall semester. Kristi’s future plans are to pursue a career in large animal medicine and to become proficient in bovine reproductive technologies.

Melissa Goers is the daughter of David and Marilyn Goers of Shawano, Wisconsin. Melissa is currently double majoring in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Marketing Communications with an emphasis in Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. Melissa plans to have a career in agriculture either through educating high school students or working with marketing the products.

Christy Brewer is the daughter of Chuck and Lynn Brewer of Weyauwega, Wisconsin. Christy is a student at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls majoring in Animal Science/Dairy Science and minoring in Chemistry and Biology. She plans to work towards her Ph.D. in Animal Science and to eventually become a college professor, motivational speaker or veterinarian while continuing to work with her family farm.

Andrew Schraufnagel is the son of Andrew and Bonnie Schraufnagel of Brownsville, Wisconsin. Andrew is studying Animal Science with a Dairy emphasis at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. He plans to join his parents and brother on the family farm after graduation. WASA member Jacobson Farmers Supply, Inc. of Brownsville, Wisconsin, referred Andrew. Also, this is Andrew’s second time to be awarded an Eldon Roesler Scholarship.

We also would like to thank the members of the WASA Scholarship Committee for their time and effort in reviewing all the applications and the selection of the winners. The members of the Committee are Chairperson Fairy Elmer, Risk Management Services-Albany, Bob Bergum, Cottage Grove Cooperative-Cambria, Bob O’Donnell, Forage Genetics-McFarland, and Chick DeLong, The DeLong Co. Inc-Clinton.

Earlier this month a letter was sent to the membership detailing how the EPA had begun follow-up based on anhydrous risk management plans (RMP) that were to be filed June of last year. The rule states, with limited exceptions, if a threshold quantity (TQ) of anhydrous (10,000 lbs.) or ammonia solutions (20,000 lbs.) is stored at a facility, a RMP must be prepared and on-file with the EPA. In some other states there has been a controversy regarding whether unconnected nurse tanks stored at a remote site awaiting pick-up by a farmer customer, constitute a "facility" which requires a RMP or are considered separate entities which do not require a RMP.

The EPA region responsible for Wisconsin has taken the position that a separate RMP is generally required if the cumulative amount of hazardous materials at a single site reaches the TQ’s. The exceptions to this guideline (and possible alternatives to the development of a RMP) fall into three areas. These include if the nurse tanks are stored far enough apart so that an accident affecting one tank would not affect another (contact your local fire department or county HazMat coordinator for specific spacing requirements). The tanks remain connected to the power units that towed them to the remote location or if the tanks are under the control of the farmer.

If you have anhydrous nurse tanks under your control, stored at a remote location for pick-up and/or return, please contact the WASA office for more details regarding your options under the law.

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