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EPA to Crack Down on Farm Dust

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering a crackdown on farm dust, so senators have signed a letter addressing their concerns on the possible regulations.

The letter dated July 23 to the EPA states, "If approved, would establish the most stringent and unparalleled regulation of dust in our nation's history." It further states, "We respect efforts for a clean and healthy environment, but not at the expense of common sense. These identified levels will be extremely burdensome for farmers and livestock producers to attain. Whether its livestock kicking up dust, soybeans being combined on a dry day in the fall, or driving a car down the gravel road, dust is a naturally occurring event."

"It's plain common sense, we don't want to do anything detrimental," said farmer Curtis Roberts. "If the dust is detrimental to us, it's going to be to everybody. We're not going to do anything to hurt ourselves or our farm."

Roberts, a fourth generation farmer and rancher in Arcadia, said regulating dust in rural areas will hurt farmers' harvest, cultivation and livelihood.

"Anytime you work ground, you're going to have dust. I don't know how they'll regulate it," Roberts said. "The regulations are going to put us down and keep us from doing things we need to be doing because of the EPA."


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WTF? They need to make the EPA people that write this shit live in a rural area for a month in the fall.

They realize that dust can't be controlled don't they?

A farmer doing work in a field, even a low till field, will create dust. Someone driving down a dirt/gravel road will create dust in the air....


A strong wind will stir up dust.


Clearly we need to regulate the wind as well.

Dust is already regulated. A farm would be tough though. Construction sites and concrete plants are two examples. Heck even landfills have to water their roads to avoid dust.

If dust blows off-site and creates a nuisance then it can be a violation. This includes dirt roads. The property owners along the road are responsible. Usually no one cares because they all create dust together and live with it. But its when it affects someone that isn't a part of the road then those people might complain.

Its like smoke from outdoor burning or odor from a landfill. If they go off the property then it is regulated.

I close my eyes,
only for a moment,
and the moment's gone.

JayJ79 wrote:I close my eyes,
only for a moment,
and the moment's gone.

All my dreams
Pass before my eyes with curiosity

Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

The EPA needs to get to the root of the problem and regulate the wind.

Dust is the main reason....nay the ONLY reason...why I still live in a county island completely surrounded by 3 cities (Cave Creek, Scottsdale, Phoenix).

Most of the roads in our area are dirt. Any city that were to annex us would immediately be responsible for ALL dust abatement on those dirt roads which would mean either paving them (which would probably cause a riot), chip-sealing them (again, a riot), or oiling them. All three VERY expensive alternatives which no city wants to take responsibility for.

Thus, we most likely will always remain a county island.

Not many of you are likely aware of this, but there is a new Food Safety initiative called SQF, which stands for Safe Quality Food, and dust is a serious problem. Many food manufacturers are going to it, too. Dust is not really the issue so much as the nasties carried in that dust. Mold and bacteria spores are present in dust and present food companies with expensive problems they've never had to deal with before, especially in mitigation.

It's all part of food protection, too, and to counter bioterrorism. The company I last worked for could not install windows on the north side of its building because, across the street was a large farm which, in addition to the two things named above, uses pesticides and fertilizers which easily become airborne and, conceivably, can settle on food contact surfaces, if not the food itself.

Yes, we've survived all these years without these proposed additional protections, but it is a diferent world. Bioterrorism is a very real threat and one that has not come to fruition to any large extent in the U.S...........yet. If you want to cripple America, go after its food and water.

To me, it's only a matter of time before something happens along these lines. Think of the devastation, for example if one terrorist motherfvcker dirty-bombed a large corn field in Iowa. Do you know how deep corn goes into our food system? Think of a coordinated dirty-bombing in just a few states. Think of how easy it would be to do. Doesn't have to be nuclear material, either.

Cap'n Cat
Food Guardian

Cap'n Cat wrote:Not many of you are likely aware of this, but there is a new Food Safety initiative called SQF, which stands for Safe Quality Food, and dust is a serious problem. Many food manufacturers are going to it, too. Dust is not really the issue so much as the nasties carried in that dust. Mold and bacteria spores are present in dust and present food companies with expensive problems they've never had to deal with before, especially in mitigation.

It's all part of food protection, too, and to counter bioterrorism. The company I last worked for could not install windows on the north side of its building because, across the street was a large farm which, in addition to the two things named above, uses pesticides and fertilizers which easily become airborne and, conceivably, can settle on food contact surfaces, if not the food itself.

Yes, we've survived all these years without these proposed additional protections, but it is a diferent world. Bioterrorism is a very real threat and one that has not come to fruition to any large extent in the U.S...........yet. If you want to cripple America, go after its food and water.

To me, it's only a matter of time before something happens along these lines. Think of the devastation, for example if one terrorist motherfvcker dirty-bombed a large corn field in Iowa. Do you know how deep corn goes into our food system? Think of a coordinated dirty-bombing in just a few states. Think of how easy it would be to do. Doesn't have to be nuclear material, either.

Cap'n Cat
Food Guardian

Bastards! And by going after Iowa, they are going for the throat of our nation's breadbasket!

Katie bar the door! Damn the torpedos! Batton down the hatches! And God Save The Queen of Iowa!!

Cap'n Cat wrote:Not many of you are likely aware of this, but there is a new Food Safety initiative called SQF, which stands for Safe Quality Food, and dust is a serious problem. Many food manufacturers are going to it, too. Dust is not really the issue so much as the nasties carried in that dust. Mold and bacteria spores are present in dust and present food companies with expensive problems they've never had to deal with before, especially in mitigation.

It's all part of food protection, too, and to counter bioterrorism. The company I last worked for could not install windows on the north side of its building because, across the street was a large farm which, in addition to the two things named above, uses pesticides and fertilizers which easily become airborne and, conceivably, can settle on food contact surfaces, if not the food itself.

Yes, we've survived all these years without these proposed additional protections, but it is a diferent world. Bioterrorism is a very real threat and one that has not come to fruition to any large extent in the U.S...........yet. If you want to cripple America, go after its food and water.

To me, it's only a matter of time before something happens along these lines. Think of the devastation, for example if one terrorist motherfvcker dirty-bombed a large corn field in Iowa. Do you know how deep corn goes into our food system? Think of a coordinated dirty-bombing in just a few states. Think of how easy it would be to do. Doesn't have to be nuclear material, either.

Cap'n Cat
Food Guardian

Having worked in an anti-terrorism unit from 99-02, I can tell you we did a number of "what-if" drills on stuff just like this...

Even the rumor of something like Mad Cow being introduced into the meat supply could cripple business...

I'm not an expert on the proposed EPA dust control regulations, but I understand the point Cap makes in the above post...

It's a different world...

Good. The Dust Bowl was the worst man made environmental catastrophe in our nation's history. No need for a repeat.

Skjellyfetti wrote:Good. The Dust Bowl was the worst man made environmental catastrophe in our nation's history. No need for a repeat.

This may be the dumbest quote of the week. Comparing farming in the US today to farming in the US in the 30's shows just how little you know on this subject. Please refrain from speaking on subjects you know nothing about.

Dust SHOULD be regulated.

It is regulated on many businesses already, why not farms? Farmers can use many dust abatement steps, like no-till plowing, wind breaks, etc.

Agricultural dust is a major source of pollution in Arizona, and the cause of many multiple-car pile-ups, that have killed dozens of people this decade alone.


and don't get too smug with your county island leachery, Z - look for the requirement for ALL residental/traveled roads in the county to be paved in the near future.

dbackjon wrote:Dust SHOULD be regulated.

It is regulated on many businesses already, why not farms? Farmers can use many dust abatement steps, like no-till plowing, wind breaks, etc.

Agricultural dust is a major source of pollution in Arizona, and the cause of many multiple-car pile-ups, that have killed dozens of people this decade alone.


and don't get too smug with your county island leachery, Z - look for the requirement for ALL residental/traveled roads in the county to be paved in the near future.

I'm just going to say no and leave it and that cuz otherwise I may have to argue with my previous post

From the class of 09 wrote:

dbackjon wrote:Dust SHOULD be regulated.

It is regulated on many businesses already, why not farms? Farmers can use many dust abatement steps, like no-till plowing, wind breaks, etc.

Agricultural dust is a major source of pollution in Arizona, and the cause of many multiple-car pile-ups, that have killed dozens of people this decade alone.


and don't get too smug with your county island leachery, Z - look for the requirement for ALL residental/traveled roads in the county to be paved in the near future.

I'm just going to say no and leave it and that cuz otherwise I may have to argue with my previous post

Care to elaborate on your mirth?

Corporate farmers have forgotten the lessons learned in the Dust Bowl. Everything I posted is true...

dbackjon wrote:Dust SHOULD be regulated.

It is regulated on many businesses already, why not farms? Farmers can use many dust abatement steps, like no-till plowing, wind breaks, etc.

Agricultural dust is a major source of pollution in Arizona, and the cause of many multiple-car pile-ups, that have killed dozens of people this decade alone.


and don't get too smug with your county island leachery, Z - look for the requirement for ALL residental/traveled roads in the county to be paved in the near future.

Arizona is just a large gravel pit anyway, how are you going to get anything but cactus and tumbleweeds to grow there. Maybe humans should live in the natural habitat of dust.

dbackjon wrote:

From the class of 09 wrote:


I'm just going to say no and leave it and that cuz otherwise I may have to argue with my previous post

Care to elaborate on your mirth?

Corporate farmers have forgotten the lessons learned in the Dust Bowl. Everything I posted is true...

1) No-till farming is practiced in many parts of the US, the Midwest isn't the east coast although there are more trees in the Midwest then there every was in the 30's.
2) Arizona is mostly desert, no? Try googling phoenix pollution and tell me how many articles there are before they blame farming as a leading cause of the air pollution. In fact most blame it on all the people there and the natural climate of the area.
3) 43k fatal car crashes in US dozens due to dust in the last 10 years? ok assuming that’s true something like .02% are caused by dust. Why doesn’t the government focus on the cause of 40% of fatal crashes instead of .02? Talk to me when they’ve got that under control.
4) No way in the world will every traveled road in the US be paved in my lifetime. Get outside your suburban bubble. Show me any cost equation that makes it worth while to pave every traveled road. I have a feeling our friends up in Montana would find this one a stretch too.
5) Farmers remember the dust bowl. Why would the one occupation that rely on the land the most for the long term be the first to forget a natural disaster like that? Please give some back up to substantiate your claim.

From the class of 09 wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
Care to elaborate on your mirth?

Corporate farmers have forgotten the lessons learned in the Dust Bowl. Everything I posted is true...

1) No-till farming is practiced in many parts of the US, the Midwest isn't the east coast although there are more trees in the Midwest then there every was in the 30's.
2) Arizona is mostly desert, no? Try googling phoenix pollution and tell me how many articles there are before they blame farming as a leading cause of the air pollution. In fact most blame it on all the people there and the natural climate of the area.
3) 43k fatal car crashes in US dozens due to dust in the last 10 years? ok assuming that’s true something like .02% are caused by dust. Why doesn’t the government focus on the cause of 40% of fatal crashes instead of .02? Talk to me when they’ve got that under control.
4) No way in the world will every traveled road in the US be paved in my lifetime. Get outside your suburban bubble. Show me any cost equation that makes it worth while to pave every traveled road. I have a feeling our friends up in Montana would find this one a stretch too.
5) Farmers remember the dust bowl. Why would the one occupation that rely on the land the most for the long term be the first to forget a natural disaster like that? Please give some back up to substantiate your claim.

1) Starting in the 70's, with then Sec of Ag's "fence to fence" farming policy, the majority of fence row tree lines, shelter belts, etc have been removed. Corporate farms, that encompass what used to be 5 or 6 smaller family farms, take out all the barriers between the old farms, leaving flat, sterile landscapes.

2) Is Arizona naturally dusty? Yup. Is there more dust today, because of farming? definately.
Is dust the only cause of pollution? Nope. Is it a major cause? YES. And Arizona is not mostly desert, so that shows how little you know
3) Dust storms cause major pile-ups, that could in the most cases be prevented with better farming practices. The I10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson is especially prone to this. Every life saved is worth it.

4) Where did I say that every road should be paved? No where. But moderately traveled roads should be

5) Because the corporate farmers have lost the connection to the land, and are driven by pure profit motive. And BTW, my family still owns (and in the family) operates a smaller farm that has been in the family for almost 170 years.

You know, guys, this all started when we took God out of the public schools and let the Negro in.

dbackjon wrote:
4) Where did I say that every road should be paved? No where. But moderately traveled roads should be

Well, you did say this :

dbackjon wrote:look for the requirement for ALL residental/traveled roads in the county to be paved in the near future

Even I wasn't really sure what you were getting at with that. "Moderately traveled roads" (pretty vague) still sounds different than "all residential/traveled roads".

Cap'n Cat wrote:You know, guys, this all started when we took God out of the public schools and let the Negro in.

Not to mention when we started getting all these new fangled tv sets that broadcast in color.

dbackjon wrote: and don't get too smug with your county island leachery, Z - look for the requirement for ALL residental/traveled roads in the county to be paved in the near future.

We can't even regulate the flow of drugs, and now you want to regulate DUST?

And unless the COUNTY passes a law requiring all traveled roads to be paved, it ain't happening in MY lifetime out here...we will most likely NEVER get annexed, for that very reason.

GannonFan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
4) Where did I say that every road should be paved? No where. But moderately traveled roads should be

Well, you did say this :

dbackjon wrote:look for the requirement for ALL residental/traveled roads in the county to be paved in the near future

Even I wasn't really sure what you were getting at with that. "Moderately traveled roads" (pretty vague) still sounds different than "all residential/traveled roads".

I said COUNTY. As in Maricopa County, highly urbanized Maricopa County. And any residential Road would be moderately traveled, at least

dbackjon wrote:

GannonFan wrote:
Well, you did say this :


Even I wasn't really sure what you were getting at with that. "Moderately traveled roads" (pretty vague) still sounds different than "all residential/traveled roads".

I said COUNTY. As in Maricopa County, highly urbanized Maricopa County. And any residential Road would be moderately traveled, at least

You've been to my house, Jon. It's hardly what I'd call an "urban" area. Our roads ain't never gettin' paved...