R-CALF says EPA declares hay a pollutant

This is just ridiculous! Colorado has people (Senators/Congressmen) in Washington that are farmers & ranchers & know the truth. Goverment is getting into our business far to much. Grass/hay is about as natural + organic as you can get w/out selling it @ Whole Foods!!! What do they want? We need to get behind & stop this type of thing from continuing before they put us all out of business. We need to start our own orginazation of ranchers & farmers to stand up to this, lobby in Washington & fight for our rights to farm & ranch in America before it's taken away & house's built on your property. If they want it, they just take it. Ask me about drilling for oil! They just walk right in & tell you they're going to do it & if you don't comply, they bring the Sherriff out to see that you do. If they own the mineral rights, they own you. BUT remember, you're making the payments on that property, NOT them! Sorry, this was the "last Straw", no pun intended, on regulations & I'm sick of it.

If the Senators/Congressmen in Washington are actually allowing for the EPA and other organizations to do this to farmers, then maybe we should start following the money. What other reason could they possibly have for not hosting a public outcry for such tactis by the EPA.

Someone ought to get this article to Ann Barnhardt.

Someone ought to get this article to Ann Barnhardt.

This is just ridiculous! Colorado has people (Senators/Congressmen) in Washington that are farmers & ranchers & know the truth. Goverment is getting into our business far to much. Grass/hay is about as natural + organic as you can get w/out selling it @ Whole Foods!!! What do they want? We need to get behind & stop this type of thing from continuing before they put us all out of business. We need to start our own orginazation of ranchers & farmers to stand up to this, lobby in Washington & fight for our rights to farm & ranch in America before it's taken away & house's built on your property. If they want it, they just take it. Ask me about drilling for oil! They just walk right in & tell you they're going to do it & if you don't comply, they bring the Sherriff out to see that you do. If they own the mineral rights, they own you. BUT remember, you're making the payments on that property, NOT them! Sorry, this was the "last Straw", no pun intended, on regulations & I'm sick of it.

Crap like this makes it impossible to do business in the USA. Want jobs? Put a muzzle on the EPA and several other government agencies that kill business. Other wise, even more jobs are going overseas.

When writing about jobs that are lost because of government rules, don't forget all the oil industry jobs that have been lost because of the policies of our current administration.

Sending US jobs overseas even if he has to ignore a few laws:

Maritime Trades Department outraged about deluge of Jones Act waivers, shifting American jobs to foreign crews

The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, in a statement published Aug. 30 expressed shock, disappointment and outrage regarding "recent waivers of the Jones Act that have allowed foreign-flag, foreign-crewed vessels to transport oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum reserve. These waivers - nearly 50 in all - have been issued despite the ample availability of American-flag tankers and barges with well-trained, highly qualified American citizen crews."
The MTD pointed out: the "administration is giving away American jobs to foreigners. When it comes to transporting the reserve oil, U.S. mariners and U.S. ships are ready and able - yet they've been left tied at the docks."
The MTD added: "the U.S. Maritime Administration has issued more Jones Act waivers than have been issued by all past Maritime Administrations combined."
MTD President Michael Sacco noted: "At this time of high unemployment, we are appalled that the government would take such actions. This is completely contrary to the stand then-Senator Obama expressed in August 2008 to America's maritime unions."

The irony here is just too rich! Mike Callicrate laid down with the liberal dogs and now their fleas are biting him! Maybe the reason our industry is concentrating in every segment is because the cost of regulatory compliance for a multitude of issues--environmental compliance, labor, insurance, health care costs--continues to increase. R-CALF chased the wrong boogie man for far too long.

OK, It is ridiculous as mentioned by SJ. But, the use of this little foray into ridiculous by the ever overstepping EPA in this release minimizes attempts to hold the line on our rights and freedoms by looking paranoid. That does nothing for legitimate concern but push it back into a corner. These regulations are permitted to exist due to congressional action or inaction. EPA does nothing without that happening.

Trying to shut down small packers and/or feeders fits with the goals stated in the United Nations' "Livestock's Long Shadow" of a couple years back that falsely claimed livestock to be the greatest contributor to global warming. That report has clear goals of shutting down the small cattle farmer (says we will not be able to afford to raise cattle once we are assessed the true cost of raising them), and clear goals of concentrating the feedlots in as few geographical areas as possible, further industrialization of the process, etc.......... Every one concerned about the motives of the EPA should find a copy of Livestock's Long Shadow and force themselves to plow through every single page.

It falls exactly where Al Gore wants it. His remark about eating less meat and more vegetables to eliminate Global Warming. He says raising cattle for feed means clearing more forest and trees for grazing, thereby causing Global Warming. And of course, the rediculous idea that the gas immissions from livestock also is dangerous to the enviornment.

Maybe it's about time the states started reading the Declaration of Independance, second paragraph where it states in part "that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying it's foundation on such principles, etc, etc."

It falls exactly where Al Gore wants it. His remark about eating less meat and more vegetables to eliminate Global Warming. He says raising cattle for feed means clearing more forest and trees for grazing, thereby causing Global Warming. And of course, the rediculous idea that the gas immissions from livestock also is dangerous to the enviornment.

The news release says nothing about hay. How are we supposed to connect the FDA with labeling hay as a pollutant from this information? I'm no fan of the EPA, but this poorly reported article should have never seen the light of day. If we are going to fight for our rights as cattleman, we need to know and address the facts of the matter.

I have not seen the EPA report, but I suspect the issue in question here is water running off from a hay storage area at the feedlot. Federal Clean Water Act rules for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) include runoff water from feed storage areas as "process wastewater" and require that this runoff be collected and stored along with manure runoff from pens. Since this operation has an NPDES permit, collecting and storing the runoff from the hay storage area for land application would be one of their permit requirements. It is debatable whether runoff from hay storage poses a significant risk, but federal law requires it to be collected and handled the same as pen runoff for permitted CAFOs. Note that this would not apply to pasture systems or hay stored in the field - it applies only to feed storage at permitted concentrated animal feeding operations.

Fair enough for R-CALF & urban friends. Lay down with anti-agriculture dogs and wake up wth EPA fleas. Ha Ha Ha Now go on outside to scratch 'em girls.

I have not seen the details of the compliance order, but I suspect the issue here is runoff water from a hay storage area at the feedlot. Federal Clean Water Act rules for Concentrate Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) treat water runoff from feed storage areas as "process wastewater" and require that this runoff water be captured and land applied just like manure runoff from pens. Since this operation is a CAFO, collecting and storing the runoff from hay storage at the feedlot would be a requirement of their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. It is debatable whether runoff from hay storage poses an environmental risk, but the Federal Clean Water act rules require it to be collected and treated like manure runoff. Note that this requirement applies only to feed storage areas at permitted CAFOs - it would not apply to pasture systems or hay stored in the field.

Mr. Callicrate is getting bit by the hand that he wants to be fed by.

Mike has posted the EPA order on his website.
It says absolutely nothing about hay.
It says a lot about the CAFO that has been inspected several times and for several years has not maintained the required documents.
I doubt he would have had any problems if he had simply started doing a responsible job after the September 2010 inspection, like the thousands of other CAFO's in Kansas that do comply with the regulations.

If you have the permit then it is your responsibilty to comply with the requirements! If you don't want to follow the rules then quit! All He has done is make the rest of look bad in the public's eye.

Sounds like an egregious violator who is grasping at a little detail in the complaint to make the EPA look bad and get people talking. All he had to do was follow the same rules as the rest of us and he would not have had any problems.

I may be off-base here but I think the title and first part of this is totally inappropriate and inflammatory.
lokk at the "bottom line" last paragraph (that few people ever get to):

The idea that the EPA has joined a conspiracy with packers against small cattle feeders seems a bit of a stretch, but the hay-storage issue certainly raises concerns. The information provided in the EPA news release uses a fairly broad accusation of “significant NPDES permit violations,” but does not mention anything about hay storage. Drovers/CattleNetwork has contacted EPA’s Region 7 for more information on specific charges in the case. We’ll let you know what we find out.

The "Gubmint" is getting too far into our pants. Who cares about water runioff from feedlots? What about all the home lawnmowers spewing cut grass all over the place? There must be millions of them going on any given day - unfettered! What about all the birds and insects pooping all over - unrestrained? Is our "Gubmint" going to start having EPA approved birdie-Depends, and then create a whole bureaucracy to dispose of them in an environmental-friendly manner? Just another rediculous example of our tax dollars being squandered, and as if our farming community doesn't already have enough challenges to try to make an honest living!

NPDES regs for highway construction require, records of weekly inspections, and an inspection after each 1/2" of rain. Two Certified Inspectors, one from the contractor and one from the State have to sign each inspection. Regular inspections are made by Regulators to check the paper work and project. This would be extremely time consuming for a farm operation.

We as a nation need to declare EPA employees a pollutant, and to require them to be locked up in pollution containment zones.

So very sad that not one person in Congress will stand and say the truth that Obama is insane and must be impeached. Getting rid of this Marxist radical lunatic and the czars and terrorists in his regime would go a long way to putting the country on the right track. We the people elected these communist to the WH and Congress, so our downfall is ultimately our own fault.

Kind of makes me wonder just how stupid some of these so-called government agents really are. How are cattle supposed to eat, if they can't get at the hay? Let's put these same jerks in a dining hall and lock up all the food, tell them to eat hearty, and leave them to fend for themselves. These jerks, are noted for having their mouths in high gear, full speed ahead, before their brain is awake. What we need is more common sense and fewer politicians in charge. It will take a full blown revolution to bring this country back where it needs to be.

Kind of makes me wonder just how stupid some of these so-called government agents really are. How are cattle supposed to eat, if they can't get at the hay? Let's put these same jerks in a dining hall and lock up all the food, tell them to eat hearty, and leave them to fend for themselves. These jerks, are noted for having their mouths in high gear, full speed ahead, before their brain is awake. What we need is more common sense and fewer politicians in charge. It will take a full blown revolution to bring this country back where it needs to be.

We could end all the problems if we just send all our cattle to mexico :p

I am so sick of this govt./administration declaring war on the small businesses and people of the U.S. It's time we march on washington and take back this country. Enough of this tyranny.

I'm tellin' ya ... if the government agencies continue on the path they're on ... we'll all start looking to move to China ... I mean, how could it be any worse??? ... Heck, they already own the USA anyway!!!

More of the same toward our fundamental change by obama and comrades. When will it end? As soon as usa is no more. Got it comrade?

More of the same toward our fundamental change by obama and comrades. When will it end? As soon as usa is no more. Got it comrade?

I think a better case can be made for the EPA being a pollutant! When will the real conservatives in Congress start dealing with this EPA. Cut their funding by 50%. That ought to slow them down until we can get an American in the White House.

People, we need to go to Washington with guns loaded, and before that a few days boycott the meat packers, then run some idiots got of OUR COUNTRY Starting in Washington an take AMERICA back

I declare the epa a major polutant, it needs to be abolished. the epa continues to make rules that are strangling our countries busissness'. our country does not need the epa, a bogus administration. the epa rules do not have to be voted on by congress. the epa makes a rule, thats final, it becomes a law.

I'd like to see some run off. We haven't had a decent rain in over a year. The EPA needs to be reined in. Too much power with no oversight.

The idea that the EPA is colluding with big business to finish off small competition makes sense. It fits perfectly the pattern of our criminal government.

The EPA should put it where the son don't shine. It's about time congress shut down the EPA. It's a burdensome, expensive and heavy handed ageny that cases more far more trouble than it's worth. The government needs to cut its expenses and would do well kicking out the EPA first.

Agreed. I'm no fan of the EPA, or needless government regulations in general, but this article failed to make a case. There are enough legitimate reasons to prevent the EPA from abusing its power. We don't need to build straw men.

We are going to have to get people into political office that are willing to see this type of hypocrisy for just what it is . Since the inspection of the EPA their has no fewer than 11, 000 rulings that directly effect the agricultural industry and try to cripple it into submission of the government.
They have gotten to the dairy farmers through surplus buy out of milk and the farmers in crop subsides and crop failures, but they have not gotten a handle on the racing industry , not that they have not been trying. The editorial exposes that. We are going to have to either abolish this agency or it will abolish our way of life.

This is why R-CALF imploded.I was an original member of R-CALF and when Bullard was hired it turned to all emotional conspiracy BS. I have no use for EPA and don't trust'em.But R-CALF also has no credibility.

We need to scrub the whole EPA and start over again, from scratch. They are nothing more then Ovomit's long arm of control. Maybe we could get a 2-fer by throwing him and the EPA out together!

What La-La land do thes nuts live in? Next they will be declaring the air is a pollutant. They best thing that could happen would be to defund the entire EPA and put them out of business. If they keep up what they are doing, before long everything we use will be declared a danger to us. I guess next they will declare pictures a "visual pollutant"

??????????WTF???????? it is disturbing that the EPA has decidedto attack a small operation. What about the larger ones are they going to ignore them? What a waste of the money this agency is. I agree it should be defunded.

To be succinct: Our representatives are frightened and inept. They allow the Environmental regulations to pile up because Congress is does not want to directly oppose a large bureaucracy that may effect election bids. The object of the "hay" controversy is to effectively remove cheap feed which will drive the cost up and then - they get to regulated forbidding the eating of meat. Follow the money for the Republicans and follow the ideology of a "GIA" earth for the socialist Democrats. Vote evry politician out put any new person in their place.

The USA won't fall from communists or the economy or the Muslims. It will fall our of sheer stupidity! Are all of the idiots in Washington brain dead?

The farmers can thank the American people for this, and for all the corruption in Washington! WE the American people are ultimately resonsible for EVERYTHING that is and has been going on. We're resonsible for all our trouble. Washington has discreetly,over the years, promoted and developed a "dependent" nation. We get outraged when we hear/read stories like these, but we DO NOTHING! We sit on our collective asses and complain.
If America is going to regain our independence, freedoms and liberties and return to a prosperous nation, Americans will have to get up off our collective asses and take control ---and take control right now, not tommorro or next election, but right NOW!
The power lies within the hands of the American people. If we the American people had even 1/10th the spirit, ethics, morals, drive, determination, guts and courage of our forefathers, we would not have the likes of Obama, NLRB, EPA, Wall Street and socialist running (ruining) our country.

And they asked us back in the 60's to have smaller families to "preserve natural resources and OPEN SPACE", then they passed the immigration act of '65, importing millions from the third world who have HUGE families. Immigraton, both LEGAL and ILLEGAL is the main cause of loss of farmland and grassland. The gov. would prefer more people in more houses to cover every square inch of this "once" great country. As Thomas Jefferson said, paraphrashing here, that sometimes the tree of freedom has to be watered by the blood of tyrants,. the whole US gov. has become a tyrant. I am FED UP. Stay vigilent and prepare for whatever comes next.

JP and other cooler heads are right: if you actually read the press release and compliance orders, you can see that EPA said nothing about hay being a pollutant. It was Mr Callicrate who said that EPA said that, but there is no evidence that he's not simply pointing elsewhere to cover himself.

I have always thought it and now they have proven me right, these people are nuts. Their driveway sure does not go all the way to the garage.!!!! It is time to get rid of these "Nuts" and their other buddies the "Tree Huggers" before they completely distory our Nation!!!!!

I have always thought it and now they have proven me right, these people are nuts. Their driveway sure does not go all the way to the garage.!!!! It is time to get rid of these "Nuts" and their other buddies the "Tree Huggers" before they completely distory our Nation!!!!!

WOW! JP, Shawn & Rex seem to get the real message here. No where does it mention hay as a pollutant. Nor does it ever 'Imply" such. Even the catch all "in effect" does not cover up the nonsense this news article is spewing. Reminds me a bit of the movie "The Oxbow Incident". It too was about cattlemen, cattle, the law, etc. etc. Maybe we should hang all the EPA workers and wake up tomorrow to find out they were all innocent. I wonder if some of you would own up and eat your gun barrel. Take a deep breath and lay off the tea.The one who was wrong here was the one who failed to take proper care of his CAFO. He's probably a lousy cattleman too.

WE need to work on doing away with EPA. They costing all of us lots of $$$, even the "poor people". They are also assisting Oboma in destroying our fee enterprise system and our economy.

"Government is the Problem, not the Solution." Vote Tea Party Candidates for smaller government and less taxes.

I read the compliance order and it seems that we are not talking about rain runoff from raw hay, but the runoff from 3000 plus cow poops washing into the water ways. I think that after hay has been processed through cows it is fair to expect waste water controls. I could not tell what was really under discussion from the write-up above.

I'm only sorry that I am unable to run for the oval office this year. I can assure you there would be PLENTY of people in our government today that not only would find themselves out of a job but would find themselves being investigate. This reminds me what was taking place back in '08 when they were talking about taxing farmers because when their cattle passes gas, they are releasing methane gas into our air. I wonder how many of these "wise" people are claiming they don't when they pass gas? Our government is becoming more and more of a joke everyday! Thanks Obama!

The EPA is seeking to be the predominant federal agency by using its legislative mandates in a manner never envisioned at its creation. At least it wasn't envisioned by free market folks that way. It the EPA can control hay, they can control how much beef gets produced, its price etc. Then it can move on to another food category in pursuit of its zero growth, socialist/redistributive agenda where we all suffer in equal mediocrity and have to say please may I to go about our daily lives. It is first on my list for elimination on Il Duce Obama gets tossed out.

People,

To make heads or tails out of this, you need to have the inspection and the order. The order does not specifically list dry hay. However, # 4 of the order states "Failure to conduct all production area operations within areas that are controlled in a manner capable of preventing pollution." It further mentions the feed stock storage area and composting area. On page 8 of the inspection, the EPA inspector states, "A difined pathway was observed during the inspection and is visible on attachment 6. I informed Mr. Jones that storm water run-off from the feed stock storage area (silage pit, bulk distillers grain, ground hay and spills outside the covered bunkers) is considered to be process waste water and must be managed as to not allow pollutants to discharge from the facility." Therefore, EPA has made the determination that GROUND HAY is a pollutant.

Edit

Sorry, Runoff from the GROUND HAY is the pollutant.

We the people for the people. Stand up America. fight back and stop whats happening.

After reading the article I do not see any evidence that the EPA has declared hay a pollutant. I see failure to maintain adequate waste water storage, keep records and other things. Buck up! Let's keep America's food safe!

HAY has not been declared a pollutant by the EPA - this politician is hoping he can inspire a frenzy in the farming community knowing very few will actually go investigate his claims. Hay could be considered a solid waste under the EPA regulations. And as such could be regulated if it were causing a harm. However, NPDES permits are for WATER POLLUTION - a major feed lot would have to be dumping it into a waterway to be in violation. An NPDES permit (which would have already been issued to the operation) would clearly tell them what they can and cannot discharge into waterways. However, it would be absurd to think storage of hay could be regulated with an NPDES permit. Please investigate these ridiculous claims before you believe them and get riled up for nothing. Feed lots are typically environmental polluters for the copius amounts of animal wastes discharged into and contaminating your drinking water sources, NOT for hay.

another situation where the EPA and the government will sit down to a meal and order stake and either there won't be any or the price will be so high that even the big shots can't afford it. Get rid of the current government bureaucrats and the EPA idiots and leave things alone. Calling alfalfa a pollutant just shows how really stupid those people really are and how rediculous it is to leave them in the positions they hold. let's take a shovel and clean the used hay and the EPA and the bureaucrats out of the barn.

George Soros is buying up farm land here in the USA. He who controls the food, controls the people.
This is an attempt to put farmers out of business with undo regulations that farmers can not afford, therfore allowing the farms to be sold to Soros and his ilk!

good better best

Now they are taking away my right to smell hay which I need to survive. Now I will need to purchase the smell.

Don't people realize? It is a hazard NOW because this year they allowed Dupont to make toxic GMO alfalfa (causes fetuses to abort) , other corrupt corporations are also making GMO grasses. People had better wake up & demand an END to the GMO industries or we will all suffer for it. NOT just the farmer. WAKE UP people.

This is truly a sad article that our rights as Americans are being stripped away faster and more ridiculous EVERYDAY! The government is trying to "Dummify" the American public to be able to control all aspects of our lives. We definitely need to work as hard as we can as a strong, independent front against big business and the government as a whole. I want the consititution to mean something again and not just a piece of paper!

These are the same fools that said cow flatulence was eating up the ozone layer. How did this happen to us? It all comes down to politics. We all better choose sides and start making noise.

The EPA did NOT declare hay a pollutant. Do some research folks. This is part of the smear campaign aimed at the EPA by the Republicans. Lies spread fast!

THis is simply the latest attempt by R-CALF to generate enough hysteria to bring more donations into their coffers. Quite like HSUS does, in fact! Mr. Callicrate is no stranger to such publicity, antagonism, and 'stretching' the story, it seems. FACTS mean NOTHING to that bunch! Forget the idea that only "the big outfits" polute! They are too visible, too often inspected to get away with anything. Look at the small places. Some are great, some are a blight on the environment. There are too many of them to regulate, and much of the regulation does not apply to less than 1000 head feedlots.

The real problem with their manufactured jysteria is that it detracts from the very real threat of over-regulation by the zealous EPA. Most ag organizations have been working dilligently to curb them, and with some success. The best thing that could happen would be to return that power to the states and legislatively require each state to set their own standards, certainly for state businesses and people. Possibly national and international businesses, such as oil, manufacturing, and others should come under federal law to assure real gains made in the area of air and water pollution by those entities is kept. Soneone mentioned yard wastes, and I would add fertilizers, pesticides, and even oil spills from home oil changes to that list. Golf courses, parks, and more. Are they regulated at all, or are the chemicals they may use really regulated??? If they are, it hasn't always been so. EPA, among other wasteful bureaus in Washington definitely need to go away and let their 'people' find real work. Maybe cleaning cattle pens would be a good start-up.

The diatribe about taking guns to Washington is completely over the top in stupidity. Just get out and vote, and make sure votes cannot be stolen, again!

Dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is totally ridiculous is the fact that they'll have to clear far more forest in order to grow those healthy and delicious vegetables than is cleared for livestock. Livestock tend to use resources that are either already cleared or are naturally cleared. Not only that, but they are addressing feedlots. No additionally clearing needed.