News Update

November 4, 2011

AFT Calls for “More Bang for the Conservational Buck”

“Our nation faces challenges which will intensify the pressure on our farmland, including the need to double agricultural production in the coming years to meet the needs of a global population growing to as many as 10 billion people,” says Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust (AFT). “It’s imperative to recognize that a strong commitment to conservation programs is critical to our nation’s security.”

Scholl shared his thoughts following a press conference on the unfolding 2012 Farm Bill, along with AFT’s initial policy recommendations in three areas: conservation and farmland protection, the farm safety net and rural development. In addition, AFT launched a special website, www.farmbillfacts.org, to serve as a key information source for those wanting to follow the progress of farm policy for the duration of the legislative process.

“This process has been extremely unique in terms of how the Farm Bill is being crafted, but the results can be transformational,” Scholl says. “Our Congressional agriculture leaders face very hard decisions in this budget climate that really are about the nature of government and how it will spend our money — and the best means to craft a partnership of the government and farmers and ranchers in stewarding this key natural resource.”

Scholl believes decisions about conservation and Title I of the Farm Bill could establish structures to address both short-term and long-term effectiveness of agriculture to meet national challenges. “It’s clear we have to get the most bang for our conservation buck. We must strengthen conservation programs in the most efficient manner possible.”

To that end, Scholl unveiled position papers including:

Scholl also noted that AFT provided an independent side-by-side analysis of 10 Farm Bill proposals related to the farm safety net.

“We believe there are four principles that a safety net must meet in order to be effective: It must move with the markets and be revenue-based; it must complement crop insurance but not duplicate the coverage; for accountability farmers must suffer a loss to receive a payment; and, it must minimize distortions — including the unintended environmental consequences that can arise when producers are influenced by government payments rather than market forces,” Scholl said.

“Like many in Washington we do not know whether the Super Committee on Deficit Reduction will include the farm bill in its recommendations, the level of cuts they are considering, or when the details may become known,” says Scholl. “You have to maintain a level of confidence, though, that the leadership of the Agriculture Committees are seasoned in farm policy and recognize the critical nature of investing in conservation. We will do all we can do to inform the process and encourage people to elevate these key issues to a place of greater prominence. It’s about our collective future.”

— Release by American Farmland Trust.

Reducing Risk of Grain Dust Explosions

In the aftermath of an Oct. 29 grain elevator explosion in Atchison, Kan., that claimed six lives and injured two others, Kansas State University (K-State) grain scientist Leland McKinney said that while grain and other kinds of dust can be dangerous, steps can be taken to reduce risk.

“It’s a real tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people who are affected by this,” he said.

McKinney answered questions relating to grain dust explosions.

Why do explosions happen sometimes in grain storage facilities?

McKinney: Several factors must be present for a grain dust explosion to occur. They all have to be present at the same time. These conditions are: 1) an ignition source, such as a hot bearing, welding or cutting; 2) an adequate concentration of low-moisture grain dust; 3) the grain dust is in suspension; 4) the presence of oxygen; and 5) the ignition of the grain dust in an enclosure, such as an elevator.
Removing any of those factors reduces the likelihood of a grain dust explosion.

What can grain storage facilities do to minimize the risk of explosions?

McKinney: Grain storage facilities can reduce their risk of a grain dust explosion with good housekeeping practices to reduce grain dust levels and by installing monitoring devices on equipment to detect overheating of bearings.
Most primary explosions occur in a bucket elevator (leg). For that reason, modern facilities are designed with the leg on the outside of the facility in order to reduce risk. Older facilities were built with the leg inside.
The cleanliness of the facility is also a factor. Most of the destruction in a grain dust explosion is caused by secondary explosions, or a series of explosions, that occur throughout the facility. It’s important that grain elevators have a good housekeeping program so that they keep the concentration of dust down and are very aware of any points where ignition may occur.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has recognized that this (grain dust) is a potential workplace hazard, and has grain handling standards in the regulations that address precautions that need to be taken. They address cleanliness of the facility and other hazards that occur in grain handling facilities.

Do these kinds of explosions happen often?

McKinney: During the 10-year period 1995-2005, there were an average of 10.5 explosions per year, according to statistics compiled by Robert Schoeff, professor emeritus at K-State. He is now retired, but he devoted a major portion of his career to collecting statistics and finding out why grain dust explosions occur. He was an internationally recognized expert on the subject, and his work resulted in a sharp decline in the number of explosions annually. That work included annual reports from 1980 to 2005 (K-State Research and Extension website: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/historicpublications/Dust_Exp.htm).

Are we seeing more grain storage facility explosions than we used to?

McKinney: The highest frequency of grain dust explosions occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s. A lot of fact finding went on at that time.

Does it make a difference what kind of grain is stored?

McKinney: All grain dust can be explosive given the conditions described earlier are met. Other kinds of dust can be explosive. I believe it was in 2009, there was a sugar mill that exploded in Georgia. Other kinds of dust, when suspended and there’s a source of ignition, can cause a fire or an explosion.

Does low atmospheric humidity cause dust explosions?

McKinney: There’s no data that indicate that low atmospheric humidity causes dust explosions.

Can high atmospheric humidity prevent dust explosions?

McKinney: There’s also no data that indicate that high atmospheric humidity prevents dust explosions.

Is there more danger of an explosion in one type of construction — wood, steel or concrete — compared to others?

McKinney: No, there is no evidence to support that the type of construction makes a difference in grain dust explosions.

Could this kind of accident happen in smaller, on-farm grain handling facilities?

McKinney: I would say any time you have a situation where you have an ignition source and grain dust, there’s the potential for a flash fire or an explosion.

“You have to stay on top of your maintenance and housekeeping and always have safety on your mind in whatever industry you’re in,” the grain scientist said. Information about grain processing, including how to obtain a video, “Deadly Dust,” is available on the K-State Department of Grain Science and Industry website: www.grains.ksu.edu.

— Release by K-State.

— Compiled by Katie Gazda, intern, Angus Productions Inc.

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