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From the Field: Sustainability, the New Buzz Word

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From the Field is a bi-monthly column written by Mark Campbell, Farm Bureau Field Services Director for the Central District. He writes about Farm Bureau member benefits and County Farm Bureau activities.

Sustainability is the hot buzz word that everyone talks about these days.  Some people have different definitions of the word, but Wikipedia defines it, in part, as “to maintain, support or endure.”  Further information on the Wikipedia page on sustainability was as varied as there are opinions on what sustainable is and more than I wanted to endure.  But I think most people would agree that a sustainable practice has outputs that are equal or greater than the inputs, without totally depleting the inputs. 
Water is one of those inputs, and we all use it.  Farmers and ranchers wisely utilize water to produce food, fiber, and other products.  I can cite numerous examples where agriculturalists have stepped up to the plate to meet the demands of a rapidly growing global population by using less water, land, fertilizer and fuel.

I want to highlight a local agriculture family business that defines sustainability and recently won an award for it.  Saunders Brothers, of Piney River, won the 2013 Environmental Stewardship Award from the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association (VNLA).  Saunders Brothers is a large scale wholesale nursery and fruit producer in Nelson County.  Saunders Brothers started doing Evapotranspiration (ET)- based irrigation during the summer of 2011.  The goal of ET-based irrigation is to determine the amount of water lost from a containerized plant during one day and to replace exactly that amount through irrigation.  They have been conducting cutting edge research with the University of Florida on ET-based irrigation. 
Further testing and research was using Leachate Fraction (LF) technology, which is the ratio of the excess water lost out of the bottom of the container during an irrigation cycle to the total irrigation applied.  Testing and research was also conducted on the amount of nutrients that stayed in the pot.  The results of their testing showed that equal or better quality plants could be grown using less water and fertilizer.  It was determined that fertility levels could be reduced by as much as 30-40 percent on some crops.  This precision-type irrigation resulted in their using 50 percent less water in 2012 compared to the previous five year average. 
Saunders Brothers further enhanced this trial process by installing wireless irrigation controllers on a portion of the nursery.  So instead of adjusting irrigation levels out in the field, the irrigation run times are programmable on PCs and the data is wirelessly transmitted to control panels.  The irrigation system can even be run from the University of Florida in Gainesville from a PC.  They plan to convert the rest of the nursery to the wireless system by the fall of 2013.  By utilizing this technology, they are able to apply the specific amounts of irrigation and nutrients that the particular plants need, no more and no less.  The programmable irrigation system takes into account the type of plant, pot size and crown of plant. 
This year, another component will be added to the ET-based irrigation.  They plan to install an on-site weather system.  The on-site weather system will be tied into the irrigation system.  So rainfall will be factored into the irrigation needs.  For example, if 0.25” of water is called for a group of plants, and a 0.25” of rain falls, the irrigation system will not supply water that day. 
Saunders Brothers has other conservation measures such as irrigation ponds that also catch runoff from the nursery.  These ponds catch water that can be recycled back through the nursery.  The ponds also serve as settling locations for runoff nutrients which the company monitors on a regular basis.  Everything is tied together.  This is today’s precision agriculture.  An agriculture industry that precisely and smartly utilizes natural resources.
Sustainability, a buzz word, yes, but to many in the agriculture community, it is a way of doing business that helps profitability, efficiently utilizes natural resources and inputs and ensures that the business can be transitioned to the next generation.
American agriculture has been a shining light around the world when it comes to food production.  Time and time again, American agriculture has risen to the challenge.  We have another challenge ahead of us.  There will be 2.5 billion more people to feed in the year 2050, and we will have to find a way to do that.  No doubt that technology will be a major factor, and I am sure that we will continue to do it in a sustainable way. 
Until next time,
Mark

VSU to hold 6th Annual Virginia Berry Conference in March

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The 6th Annual Berry Production and Marketing Conference will take place on March 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Virginia State University’s Gateway Dining Hall in Petersburg. 
Speakers include Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a professor at North Carolina State University who now heads research on postharvest physiology and technology for fruits and vegetables for NCSU; Dr. Ioannis Tzanetakis, an associate professor at the Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas who is working on the epidemiology and molecular biology of berry, ornamental, and soybean viruses;  Dr. Gina Fernandez, a professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University whose research activities focus primarily on season extension and breeding of blackberries and raspberries; and  Mrs. Kathy Demchak, a Senior Extension Associate in the Department of Plant Science at Penn State University who has conducted research on a wide range of berry-related topics from production systems such as high tunnels and plasticulture to research on disease and insect pests. 
Registration fee is $15.00. Registration Deadline is March 11, 2013. You can register online at 2013 Berry Conference or return completed registration form with check or money order payable to: VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, Attention: Mollie Klein, P.O. Box 9081, Petersburg, VA 23806, mklein@vsu.edu

Governor McDonnell to Co-Host 5th Annual Conference on Agricultural Trade March 7-8 in Richmond

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Governor Bob McDonnell will co-host the 5th Annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade on March 7 and 8 in Richmond. The two-day conference, entitled “Virginia and the Global Market,” is co-hosted by Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the Virginia Port Authority.  The event will bring together producers, agribusinesses, exporters, foreign ambassadors, embassy ministers, land-grant university leadership, state and federal government officials, and others to discuss challenges and opportunities for global exports.  Workshops and private meetings regarding the international trade of agricultural goods will be held as well.
Governor McDonnell will address the conference on Thursday, March 7 at 12 noon.  The Governor will discuss the importance of agricultural exports and the role agriculture and forestry, the state’s largest industries, play in Virginia’s economy.  The Governor will also announce total figures for agricultural exports from Virginia for 2012.  In 2011, the Commonwealth totaled more than $2.35 billion in agricultural exports, an all-time record.  That followed 2010’s $2.24 billion figure, the second largest total in history.

Speaking about the event, Governor McDonnell said, “I’m pleased to again co-host the Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade, which has become the premier event highlighting the importance of agricultural exports on the Commonwealth’s economy. These exports are generating billions of dollars and creating thousands of jobs throughout Virginia, from our farmlands to our ports.  That’s just one of the reasons I decided to integrate fully agriculture and forestry into my administration’s overall economic development and jobs creation agenda.  However, we also know that there are many more opportunities in the global marketplace for our producers and exporters.  With the new international marketing resources we’ve secured from the General Assembly, we’re now able to work more strategically with our private sector partners to take advance of these opportunities.  This conference is part of that effort, and I encourage all stakeholders currently exporting or interested in exporting to attend.
 In addition to Governor McDonnell, the conference is scheduled to feature presentations from, among others, Ambassador Mike Moore of New Zealand; Ambassador Islam Siddiqui, Chief Agriculture Negotiator for the Office of the United States Trade Representative; Dr. Charles Steger, President of Virginia Tech; Todd Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Rodney Oliver, Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority; Mike McClendon, East Coast President, Lineage Logistics; and J.B. Penn, Chief Economist, Deere and Company.
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (VDACS) international marketing representatives from Hong Kong, China, India, the European Union, and Latin America will serve on a panel discussing their efforts to increase exports from Virginia.  In addition, the foreign trade representatives will be available to meet privately with attendees who are interested in exploring export opportunities in the countries or regions where they are based.
Since taking office in 2010, Governor McDonnell led overseas trade and marketing missions to Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Japan, China, South Korea, Israel, and India.  These missions and the work of VDACS’ new international marketing staff with Virginia’s private sector exporters have resulted in almost $500 million in new agricultural exports from Virginia so far.  Gubernatorial trade missions for 2013 are being planned now.
Agriculture and forestry are Virginia’s largest industries, with a combined economic impact of $79 billion annually: $55 billion from agriculture and $24 billion from forestry.  The industries also provide approximately 500,000 jobs in the Commonwealth according to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.
Details:
What:  The Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade Conference information and a tentative agenda available here: http://www.vafarmbureau.org/Agriculture/AgTradeConference.aspx
When:  Thursday, March 7: 11:45 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
            Friday, March 8: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where:  Omni Hotel, Richmond
Who:  Governor McDonnell, U.S. and Virginia-based agribusinesses, exporters,  foreign ambassadors, embassy ministers, land-grant university personnel

AFBF Board Establishes Strategic Action Plan for 2013

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AFBF President
Bob Stallman
Following the delegate session of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 94th Annual Meeting, which wrapped up this week in Nashville, the organization’s board of directors met to establish priorities for AFBF’s strategic action plan for 2013.
“This plan represents those issue areas where we believe the American Farm Bureau Federation and its grassroots members will have real opportunities to achieve success this year, as well as challenges we will need to tackle to help safeguard our members’ ability to operate their farms and ranches,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman.
Aggressively working to secure passage of legislation early in the year that addresses both long- and short-term agricultural labor needs is a priority for AFBF. A recent Farm Bureau economic analysis concluded that $5 billion to $9 billion in annual production is in jeopardy if the employee shortage cannot be filled.
“Comprehensive immigration reform through legislation is needed to solve the agricultural worker problem,” Stallman said.
Passage of the Water Resources Development Act and reform of the harbor maintenance trust fund and the inland waterways trust fund is another priority for AFBF. 

“A reliable and efficient inland water system for shipment of farm goods is essential for U.S. agriculture to be competitive,” explained Stallman.


Another important priority is working to secure passage of a new farm bill that meets core principles important to farmers and ranchers. This includes a farm income safety net and crop insurance products to provide risk management tools that help protect farmers from catastrophes, including programs that provide emergency assistance for livestock and specialty crops producers not covered by farm programs or federal crop insurance.
The board also directed AFBF to defend standards and incentives necessary to further develop the U.S. renewable fuels industry; oppose Environmental Protection Agency efforts to expand the scope of navigable waters subject to federal regulations under the Clean Water Act; oppose expansion of federal Clean Water Act permit requirements for poultry and livestock farmers and ranchers; protect farmers’ and ranchers’ tax interests in debates on fiscal policy and tax reform; and protect farmers’ and ranchers’ interests in development of Food and Drug Administration food safety regulations.
“The 2013 priorities set by the board are built upon the dedicated efforts of our grassroots members working together during our annual meeting and throughout the year to achieve policy goals that will benefit all of agriculture, as well as the nation’s consumers and our customers around the world,” said Stallman.

The Life of a Legislative Aide: A Q&A

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Stefanie Kitchen is the legislative aide for
Del. Peter Farrell (R-56th)

If you’ve ever tried to visit or contact your legislator, odds are you’ve interacted with their legislative aide. Some folks find this frustrating, especially when there’s an important issue they want to discuss with their legislator, but meeting or speaking with an aide can be just as effective. 
We sat down with Stefanie Kitchen, legislative aide to Delegate Peter Farrell (R-56th) and former Virginia Farm Bureau Governmental Relations intern, to discuss her life as a aide and how she works with constituents to make sure their messages reach their legislator. 

What exactly does a legislative aide do?
A legislative aide does anything and everything their delegate or senator needs to be an effective legislator.  Aides provide support in a variety of ways, including meeting with lobbyists and constituents, tracking legislation, organizing constituent outreach and response, writing press releases, and coordinating social media.
How much interaction do you have with the constituents?
I have a great deal of interaction with constituents. Constituents frequently contact the office, both during Session and the interim, to voice their opinions on legislation or request assistance with a state agency.  Aides serve as the first line of defense for legislators, so I usually speak to every constituent before passing them on to the delegate.   

What are the most effective ways for constituents to communicate with their legislator about issues that are important to them?
A face-to-face meeting is the most effective way for constituents to communicate with their legislator. A lot of people think legislators only meet with lobbyists, but that is definitely not the case. Most legislators enjoy seeing friendly faces from the district, and talking in-person conveys commitment to an issue. Conversely, the least effective way to communicate is a form letter. Not taking time to develop your own thoughts really detracts from the importance of an issue.
How are legislative aides influential to their legislators?
You’d have to ask the legislator! Each office is different, but I am lucky enough to work for a delegate who listens and trusts my discretion when it comes to the vetting process. I decide who meets with the delegate and who receives a letter or a phone call.   
What happens after you meet with some constituents Peter was unable to meet with? How do you get make sure he gets their information?
I record every constituent’s legislative comments in an electronic database after I talk to them. When Delegate Farrell is in committee or on the floor of the House of Delegates, he can pull up any given bill and see exactly who supports and opposes the legislation and why.
What are the best ways to befriend the aide and why is that beneficial?
The best way to befriend an aide is the simplest way: be polite. Aides meet with numerous people every day and the ones that stand out are the ones who are particularly friendly and the ones who are particularly rude. Don’t be part of the second group! Most aides genuinely want to help, and you never know when you are going to need one to go the extra mile for you.  

From the Field: Celebrate National Heart Month with Beef

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From the Field is a bi-monthly column written by Mark Campbell, Farm Bureau Field Services Director for the Central District. He writes about Farm Bureau member benefits and County Farm Bureau activities.

February is National Heart Month and people are urged to be more conscious of a heart healthy lifestyle. The American Heart Association cites seven steps to have a healthy heart. They are:

1) Engage in regular physical activity,
2) Eat a healthy diet,
3) Maintain a healthy weight,
4) Don’t smoke,
5) Control cholesterol,
6) Manage blood pressure, and
7) Keep blood sugar at healthy levels.

The good news is that lean proteins such as beef, pork, and poultry can be a part of this.


I want to share with you exciting news about the benefits of beef in a heart healthy diet. It used to be that medical professionals and nutritionists discouraged consumption of red meat. But a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition called “Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet” or “BOLD” showed beef’s role in a heart healthy diet. The biggest take away from this study is that adding lean beef to a heart healthy diet reduces LDL “bad” cholesterol by 10 percent.

The BOLD diet includes 4 ounces of lean beef daily. New research and data are leading to more physicians and nutritionists recognizing that lean beef does play a role in a healthy balanced diet. The BOLD study also demonstrated that a diet including lean beef every day was as effective at lowering total and LDL “bad” cholesterol as the gold standard heart healthy diet DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). The BOLD diet is similar to DASH in that it includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and beans. But the BOLD diet uses lean beef as the primary protein source.

What about the fat? Half of the fat in a cut of beef is monounsaturated, the same type found in salmon and olive oil. The other half that is saturated, 1/3 of that is stearic acid, which has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels. The beef community has made great strides in providing leaner products for the consumer. There are now more than 29 beef cuts that meet the government guidelines for lean. Some of those include the t-bone steak, tenderloin, new york strip, and 95 percent lean ground beef. Beef is also nutrient dense, specifically in protein, zinc, iron, and B vitamins.

The website www.beefnutrition.org has lots of information. There are also some downloadable fact sheets that you could hand out to your friends and neighbors. That can be another way to be an advocate for agriculture. Production practices and humane treatment aren’t the only areas that we agriculturalists need to promote. We also need to promote the nutritious and healthy aspects of our food products–whether you sell wholesale or retail; you are a food producer. Therefore, nutrition has to be a component of your promotion. What better way to promote National Heart Month than to share the good news about the healthy and nutritious benefits of beef.

So be BOLD by including beef in your diet and sharing the information with your friends and family.

Until next time,
Mark

Farm Bureau’s Martha Moore appointed to Rural Jobs Council

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Governor Bob McDonnell has announced the membership of his newly created Rural Jobs Council.  This Council will build upon the success of the Governor’s Commission on Job Creation and Economic Development and continue the Administration’s focus on Virginia’s rural communities.
On Wednesday, January 2nd, Governor McDonnell issued Executive Order 57 establishing the Rural Jobs Council.  He has named Lieutenant Governor Bolling, Virginia’s Chief Jobs Creation Officer, as Chair of the Council.  Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore will serve as Co-Vice Chairs for the group.
The membership of the Council consists of legislators and leaders in the business, manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare industries.  The group will make recommendations to address the challenges to economic growth in rural Virginia and develop a statewide rural infrastructure plan to include transportation, education, and community development. 

Speaking about the announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “I am pleased to announce that these community and industry leaders have agreed to serve Virginia on this newly created Rural Jobs Council.  Virginia’s rural communities are the heart and soul of our Commonwealth and we must do everything we can to bring jobs and opportunity to these regions.  I am confident this group will develop thoughtful recommendations and a solid infrastructure plan for rural Virginia.”
Lieutenant Governor Bolling remarked, “I am honored to serve as Chair of the Governor’s Rural Jobs Council.  For the past three years, Governor McDonnell and I have shown our commitment to economic development, especially in rural Virginia, and this Council will continue that focus.  This group will give Virginia the chance to expand Governor McDonnell’s recent initiatives in the areas of entrepreneurship and education reform to ensure that all Virginians have the same opportunities, no matter their zip code.”
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore said, “I am pleased to see Governor McDonnell continue his support of rural Virginia, especially through his continued commitment in making agriculture and forestry key components of his economic development and jobs creation strategies.  Agriculture and forestry have an economic impact in Virginia of $79 billion annually and support over 500,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.  It is important that we continue to support these industries and our rural communities.  I look forward to working with the Council on important rural development issues.”
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng commented, “We have seen much success in Virginia, lowering our overall unemployment rate to 5.5%, well below the region and the national average, but we still have a long way to go.  Too many areas of the Commonwealth still have stubbornly high unemployment rates.  This council will be tasked with building upon the success of the last three years and identifying ways to continue to bring economic growth to all of Virginia’s regions.
A copy of Executive Order No. 57 is available at http://www.governor.virginia.gov/PolicyOffice/ExecutiveOrders/viewEO.cfm?eo=57
Members of the Governor’s Rural Jobs Council
·  Shannon Blevins, Director of Economic Development, UVA at Wise, Wise County

·  David Brash, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Rural Strategy, Wellmont Health   

   System, Lebanon
·  Delegate Kathy Byron, Lynchburg

·  Elizabeth Crowther, President, Rappahannock Community College, Saluda

·  Katie Frazier, President, Virginia Agribusiness Council, Richmond

·  Timothy Heydon, CEO, Shenandoah Growers, Harrisonburg

·  Rebecca Hough, Co-Founder and CEO, Evatran, Wytheville

·  Thomas Hudson, President, Virginia Coal Association, Richmond

·  Delegate Danny Marshall, Danville

·  Ned Massee, Chairman, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Richmond

·  Delegate Don Merricks, Martinsville

·  Martha Moore, Vice President for Government Affairs, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Richmond

·  Delegate Israel O’Quinn, Abingdon

·  Bill Parr, Parr Properties, Cape Charles

·  Senator Phil Puckett, Tazewell

·  Delegate Margaret Ransone, Kinsale

·  Nicole Riley, State Director, National Federation of Independent Business, Richmond

·  Senator Frank Ruff, Clarksville

·  Brett Vassey, President and CEO, Virginia Manufacturers Association, Richmond

·  William Wampler, Executive Director, New College Institute, Martinsville

·  Delegate Onzlee Ware, Roanoke

Responsibilities of the Governor’s Rural Jobs Council
·  Identify impediments to and opportunities for job creation in Rural Virginia
·  Recommend strategies to improve K-12 education and the workforce pipeline
·  Produce a comprehensive and meaningful Economic and Infrastructure Policy for Rural Virginia
·  Make recommendations to improve the tax and regulatory environment in the Commonwealth

What is Hydraulic Fracturing?

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Hydraulic Fracturing is another issue Virginians have turned their attention to.

Virginia Farm Bureau members have been invited to watch a 30-minute free webinar to learn the basics of what hydraulic fracturing.  Rayola Dougher, a senior advisor at American Petroleum Institute (API), will describe the process and talk about many myths and truths you have been hearing about.  And she promises to only use terms that we can all understand.  Questions will be answered at the end.  

The webinar will cover these frequently asked questions: What is hydraulic fracturing?  What are the facts and myths behind this 60-year old drilling process that has been used in over 1 million wells?  What role is hydraulic fracturing playing in the country’s new energy boom that is creating so many new jobs, government revenues, and economic growth?     

Pre-registration is required and viewers will be limited.

Title: What is Hydraulic Fracturing
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 6
Time: 1 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Go here to register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/682924673

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar

Writing Effective Messages to your Legislators

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From the National Education Association:

Writing to Your Legislators
Letters and e-mails can be particularly effective in influencing legislators’ views. Writing to legislators also offers an opportunity to maintain contact and keep your issues on the front burner even when you cannot meet personally.

Writing an Effective Letter
Keep it brief
 — Keep letters to one page. Try to discuss only one bill or issue in a letter.
Identify yourself
 — Begin with an introduction of yourself or the organization on whose behalf you are writing. Use a simple statement, such as “I am a third-grade teacher at _______ elementary school” or “On behalf of the members of the ________….”

Get to the point
 — Follow your introduction with a brief statement of your issue or concern, such as “We urge your support for H.R. _____, which will ________.” If you are writing in reference to a specific bill, include the bill number. Follow your opening paragraph with a concise explanation of why you support or oppose the particular bill or issue. A few strong, well-thought-out arguments are much more effective than a laundry list of reasons to support or oppose a bill. Whenever possible, use bullet points to outline your arguments.
Relate it to home
 — Help the legislator understand why your position is important to his or her constituents. Include specific facts about how a bill will impact educators, students or schools in the legislator’s district. If possible, include a local anecdote illustrating the problem you are seeking to address. Avoid the use of form letters or generic postcards — use your own knowledge and experience to inform the legislator.
Allow for follow-up
 — Include specific contact information and offer to act as a resource should the legislator or staff have questions or need additional information. Where appropriate, state in the letter that you will follow up with a telephone call. 
Address your letter correctly 
— See the details on addressing your letter below.
Using E-mail
E-mail can be an easy and effective tool for communicating with legislators. The tips outlined above for writing letters to legislators also apply to e-mails: keep them brief and to the point, with facts and anecdotes relevant to the legislator’s district.
Avoid informal language
 — E-mail to a legislator should be treated as seriously as a written letter. Resist the temptation to use the informal language and symbols often associated with e-mail communications. Never use impolite language or make “demands.” 
Include your full address and zip code 
— Make sure the text of your e-mail includes your full name and street address, including zip code. Many legislative offices screen e-mails for address information identifying the sender as a constituent. E-mails that appear to come from outside the district are unlikely to be read and may be blocked by filtering programs. 

Farmers have until May to implement SPCC Plan

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Farms now have less than six months to prepare or amend and implement their Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans. The compliance date for farms is May 10, 2013.
Below is a FAQ to help determine if your farm is prepared for a spill. 
What is SPCC? 
The goal of the SPCC program is to prevent oil spills into waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines.  Oil spills can cause injuries to people and damage to the environment. A key element of this program calls for farmers and other facilities to have an oil spill prevention plan, called an SPCC Plan.  These Plans can help farmers  prevent oil spills which can damage water resources needed for farming operations.
What is considered a farm under SPCC?
Under SPCC, a farm is: “a facility on a tract of land devoted to the production of crops or raising of animals, including fish, which produced and sold, or normally would have produced and sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during a year.”

Is my farm covered by SPCC? 
SPCC applies to a farm which:
• Stores, transfers, uses, or consumes oil or oil products, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, lube oil, hydraulic oil, adjuvant oil, crop oil, vegetable oil, or animal fat; and
• Stores more than 1,320 US gallons in aboveground containers or more than 42,000 US gallons in completely buried containers; and
• Could reasonably be expected to discharge oil to waters of the US or adjoining shorelines, such as interstate waters, intrastate lakes, rivers, and streams.
If your farm meets all of these criteria, then your farm is covered by SPCC.
If your farm meets all of these criteria, then your farm is covered by SPCC.
If my farm is covered by SPCC, what should I do? 
The SPCC program requires you to prepare and implement an SPCC Plan.  If you already have a Plan, maintain it.  If you do not have a Plan, you should prepare and implement one. Many farmers will need to have their Plan certified by a Professional Engineer (“PE”).  However, you may be eligible to self-certify your amended Plan if:
• Your farm has a total oil storage capacity between 1,320 and 10,000 gallons in aboveground containers, and the farm has a good spill history (as described in the SPCC rule), you may prepare and self-certify your own Plan. (However, if you decide to use certain alternate measures allowed by the federal SPCC Rule, you will need a PE.)
• Your farm has storage capacity of more than 10,000 gallons, or has had an oil spill you may need to prepare an SPCC Plan certified by a PE.
When should I prepare and implement a Plan?
Farms in operation on or before August 16, 2002, must maintain or amend their existing Plan by May 10, 2013. Any farm that started operation after August 16, 2002, but before May 10, 2013, must prepare and use a Plan on or  before May 10, 2013.  
Note:  If your farm was in operation before August 16, 2002, and you do not already have a Plan, you must prepare a Plan now.  Do not wait until May 10, 2013.
What information will I need to prepare an SPCC Plan for my farm?
• A list of the oil containers at the farm by parcel (including the contents and location of each container);
• A brief description of the procedures that you will use to prevent oil spills.  For example, steps you use to transfer fuel from a storage tank to your farm vehicles that reduce the possibility of a fuel spill;
• A brief description of the measures you installed to prevent oil from reaching water (see next section);
• A brief description of the measures you will use to contain and cleanup an oil spill to water; and
• A list of emergency contacts and first responders.
What spill prevention measures should I implement and include in my SPCC Plan?
• Use containers suitable for the oil stored.  For example, use a container designed for flammable liquids to store gasoline;
• Identify contractors or other local personnel who can help you clean up an oil spill;
• Provide overfill prevention for your oil storage containers.  You could use a high-level alarm, or audible vent, or establish a procedure to fill containers;
• Provide effective, sized secondary containment for bulk storage containers, such as a dike or a remote impoundment.  The containment must be able to hold the full capacity of the container plus possible rainfall.  The dike may be constructed of earth or concrete.  A double-walled tank may also suffice;
• Provide effective, general secondary containment to address the most likely discharge where you transfer oil to and from containers and for mobile refuelers, such as fuel nurse tanks mounted on trucks or trailers. For example, you may use sorbent materials, drip pans or curbing for these areas; and
• Periodically inspect and test pipes and containers.  You should visually inspect aboveground pipes and inspect aboveground containers following industry standards. You must “leak test” buried pipes when they are installed or repaired.  EPA recommends you keep a written record of your inspections.
How and when do I maintain my SPCC Plan?
Amend and update your SPCC Plan when changes are made to the farm, for example, if you add new storage containers (e.g. tanks) that are 55 gallons or larger, or if you purchase or lease parcels with containers that are 55 gallons or larger.  You must review your Plan every five years to make sure it includes any changes in oil storage at your farm.
What should I do if I have an oil spill?
• Activate your SPCC Plan procedures to prevent the oil spill from reaching a creek or river. 
• Implement spill cleanup and mitigation procedures outlined in your Plan.
• Notify the National Response Center (NRC) at 800-424-8802 if you have an oil discharge to waters or adjoining shorelines. 
• If the amount of oil spilled to water is more than 42 gallons on two different occasions within a 12-month period or more than 1,000 gallons to water in a single spill event, then notify your EPA Regional office in writing.
For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/spcc/spcc_ag.htm