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Agriculture
Guiding Principles
- Continual environmental improvement
- Enhanced relationships and partnerships with the agriculture community
- Increased knowledge and understanding of agriculture and the environment
- Improved internal networks and process management
Region 7 Agriculture Fact Sheet
EPA Region 7 Agriculture Team Highlights Ag Month
The EPA Region 7 Agriculture Team organized a full month of activities from late May through late June, including: livestock displays by sons and daughters of EPA employees; presentations by 4-H students; an agriculture policy panel of members of the first-ever EPA Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee; Ag 101 and Ag Matrix training; and livestock, watersheds and biofuels panels. Pictured is James Breedlove, son of EPA Attorney Dan Breedlove, showing EPA employees his boer-cross goats in front of the Regional Office. Presentation topics include agriculture terminology, agribusinesses, pesticides, anhydrous ammonia, livestock operations, and rowcrop farms. This is an important part of EPA's ongoing effort to provide educational opportunities for EPA employees and strengthen agriculture connections. "My goal has been to develop strong working relationships with the agriculture community and establish partnerships to find common-sense solutions to our environmental challenges. I look forward to identifying solutions that are good for agriculture, good for the environment, and good for the economy," said Region 7 Administrator John Askew.
John B. Askew, EPA Region 7 administrator, announces recognition of two Midwestern ethanol plants - June 17, 2008John B. Askew, EPA Region 7 administrator, announces selection of farmers to EPA's Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee - Feb. 21, 2008
- Askew announcement - mp3 Audio file, 0:38 in length
- Transcript of announcement
- Biographies of Region 7 committee members
Radio interview with John B. Askew, EPA Region 7 Administrator - April 10, 2007
- Askew interviewed by Stacia Cudd, National Association of Farm Broadcasting - mp3 Audio file, 2:53 in length
- Transcript of Askew interview
Biofuels
EPA Recognizes Two Ethanol Facilities that Demonstrate Exceptional Energy Savings
EPA recognized POET Biorefining in Ashton, Iowa, and East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC in Garnett, Kan., for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. ENERGY STAR awards were given to these facilities at the 24th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in Nashville, Tenn., in June 2008. Left photo (left to right): Beverly Banister, EPA Region 4; Dean Van Riesen, POET Biorefining (Ashton) General Manager; and James Moe, POET Biorefining Chief Operating Officer. Right photo: Banister and Doug Sommer, East Kansas Agri-Energy (Garnett) General Manager. At POET's ethanol plant in Ashton, electricity is generated by a natural gas-fired turbine, which requires about 16 percent less fuel than typical on-site thermal generation and purchased electricity. At East Kansas Agri-Energy's dry mill ethanol plant in Garnett, Kan., a steam turbine system generates about one-third of the facility's electrical demands and requires about 23 percent less fuel than typical on-site thermal generation and purchased electricity. News Release
Ethanol Plant Compliance Manual: Environmental Laws Applicable to Construction and Operation of Ethanol Plants (PDF) (104 pp, 3.2MB)
Environmental Management Systems
"Environmental Management Systems - Good Business for Pork Producers," an article by Jon Scholl, Counselor to the EPA Administrator for Agricultural Policy"Here's Help with New Regs," an article on environmental management systems in Agriculture Online
