AFOA Trading Rules Changed
The American Fats and Oils Association (AFOA) Board of Directors, upon recommendation by the Tallow Committee, adopted a change in line 24 of Rule 5 of its export rules to permit the use of thermal heating fluids to join the previously acceptable hot water and steam in the coils and panels of deep tanks used to transport tallow. The rule became effective at the association’s January meeting and was necessitated by the building of many new vessels being equipped to use this medium of heat transfer exclusively.
The following sentence was added at the end of line 24 of Rule 5 of AFOA’s Trading Rules for Animal Tallow and Grease (Export Contract): “Thermal heating fluids, hot water, and/or steam, are acceptable heating media.”
The board also approved a change to the arbitration portion of trading rules so that all parties to any AFOA contract are made aware that any disputes arising under the contract can only be settled by arbitration. The arbitration change took effect April 1, 2002.
Animal Disposal Paper Available
Dr. Don Franco, vice president, Scientific Services, National Renderers Association, has prepared a paper, “Animal Disposal – The Environmental, Animal Disease, and Public Health Related Implications: An Assessment of Options,” that was presented at a California Department of Food and Agriculture symposium in April.
In the 20-page paper, Franco discusses various methods of animal waste disposal, including rendering, landfills, composting, incineration, burial, and burning, and the cost considerations of disposal methods. He explains the rendering attributes compared to alternative methods and provides an analysis of two animal diseases that are inactivated by the time and temperature process of rendering.
A copy of Franco’s presentation is available from the National Renderers Association at (703) 683-0155 or on Render’s Web site at www.rendermagazine.com.
Biodiesel Fuel Standard Issued
The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) issued Specification D 6751 for all biodiesel fuel bought and sold in the United States, marking a major milestone for the biodiesel industry.
“Now that the full standard is in place, it sets the bar for all biodiesel production,” said Steve Howell, chairman of the ASTM Biodiesel Standards Task Force. “It will help protect consumers from poor products and reduce the cost of buying and selling biodiesel. While many adopted the provisional specification in 1999 [PS 121], those that didn’t had to negotiate a specification. With the final passage of D 6751, they won’t have to go through that process any more.”
Although ASTM Committee D2 approved the standard in December, it only now became available to the public. The process of reaching the standard, entitled “Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels,” was extremely thorough according to ASTM officials.
“The biodiesel standard was developed through a consensus process that reflects many points of view,” said Dave Bradley, ASTM manager, Committee D2. “You have fuel producers, users, engine makers, and others all having an opportunity to provide input.” The ASTM Biodiesel Task Force began working on the standard in 1994.
A copy of the standard is available for $30 at www.astm.org, or by calling ASTM customer service directly at (610) 832-9585.
BOD Reference Book Released
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has released “Third Century of Biochemical Oxygen Demand,” a comprehensive reference book for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
Geared towards technicians, scientists, plant operators, regulators, and engineers, the publication documents the role of BOD as one of the fundamental concepts in wastewater treatment and provides a companion reference to “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater” for evaluating and interpreting BOD test results.
Written by Rodger B. Baird and Roy-Keith Smith, the book is available online at www.wef.org, or by calling (800) 666-0206.
EPA Extends ELG Deadline
The comment period on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposed effluent limitations guidelines (ELG) for meat and poultry products has been extended from April 26 to June 25, 2002 (see April Render, page 55). The proposed rule was published in the February 25 Federal Register.
Questions may be directed to EPA’s Samantha Lewis, Office of Water, Engineering, and Analysis Division, at (202) 566-1058.
Farmland to Build Albert Lea Plant
Farmland Foods announced it plans to build a new pork processing plant in Albert Lea, MN, to replace the plant destroyed by fire in July 2001, pending resolution of insurance settlements and economic incentives.
Bill Fielding, Farmland Industries executive vice president and president, Refrigerated Foods division, said if insurance settlements and economic incentives can be resolved, Farmland would break ground on a new 380,000 square foot facility, with operations expected to begin in fall 2003.
“It is our intention to re-build in Albert Lea if it is economically feasible,” Fielding said. “We have a strong history in the community. We value our relationships with local officials and the Albert Lea work force.”
According to Farmland Foods President George Richter, the decision on whether to rebuild in Albert Lea is a complex one that involves many parties. “It has been nine months since fire destroyed the plant. Since then, Farmland has been working diligently to resolve all the issues and announce a decision…we are going on record that we want to break ground and get our employees back to work as soon as possible.”
Economic incentives from the city and state are also essential to a groundbreaking, Richter said. “Building a new plant, in Albert Lea or elsewhere, has to make economic sense for our farmer-owners. At this time, we are continuing talks with local, state, and federal officials on tax increment financing for the new site, sales tax abatement, extension of unemployment benefits to our workers, and school aid to help ensure Albert Lea schools are not adversely impacted by the students lost when families left the area for other jobs,” Richter said.
The planned facility would employ 700 workers with a payroll exceeding $20 million annually. Farmland’s Albert Lea plant had employed 500 prior to the July 2001 fire. The new plant would produce 200 million pounds per year of ham products, along with additional branded and packaged pork products.
FPRF Celebrates 40 Years
The Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF) begins its 40th year of research and technical services to the rendering industry. Formally chartered as a foundation on June 20, 1962, FPRF has now completed over 500 individual research projects and innumerable scientific and technical manuscripts in support of rendering and rendered animal products.
FPRF membership consists of any individual, corporation, or company with any association to rendering, with membership fees and contributions funding the numerous research projects.
Dr. Gary Pearl is the foundation’s current president. Past presidents include David L. Gilcrest, Dr. Larry Davis, and Dr. Fred Bisplinghoff. Past technical directors are Dr. D.M. Doty, Dr. Werner Boehme, Dr. J.D. Shroder, and Dr. Hank Fuller.
Meat New Zealand Reelects Chairmen
The board of directors of Meat New Zealand reelected Jeff Grant as chairman and Wayne Walden as deputy chairman at their April meeting. This will be the second term for both individuals. Each term is 12 months.
Renderer Fined for Disposal
Richard Jerome, president of Valley By-Products, Vinton, TX, pleaded guilty in February to three felony counts of unlawfully discharging a water contaminant. He was sentenced to five years probation and a $200,000 fine to be paid over five years.
Natalie Jerome, Richard’s daughter and the company’s corporate secretary, said the charges resulted from a technicality issue on a permit issued by the state of New Mexico, where the wastewater was disposed. She added that land application of wastewater is allowed in New Mexico.
Along with Jerome’s plea, Henry Medina, owner of Southwest Septic Service, Las Cruces, NM, pleaded no contest to unlawfully discharging a water contaminant and received 18 months probation. Prior to the sentencing, Medina, who operated a landfill where the wastewater was dumped, held a permit from the state’s environment department to dispose of septic, restaurant grease, and brine wastes.
A third man, Hector Villa III, an El Paso, TX, environmental consultant hired by Valley By-Products, went before a jury who convicted him of eight felony counts involving the dumping. Although sentenced to a 12-year prison term in April, New Mexico District Court Judge Grace Duran suspended the sentence and placed Villa on a five year probation, and ordered him to pay a $40,000 fine, complete 700 hours of community service, and give five lectures a year to high school and college students about the importance of environmental protection.
Ruminant By-Products Test Developed
Neogen Corporation has released a rapid test to detect ruminant by-products in animal feed ingredients. The test is designed for use by feed mills, beef, dairy, and sheep producers, and regulatory agencies, to ensure feed ingredients do not contain ruminant by-product meal. Mammalian proteins have been prohibited from U.S. feed intended for ruminants since 1997.
The new test, Agri-Screen for Ruminant Meat and Bone Meal Strip Test, involves boiling a sample in an extraction solution followed by the immersion of a dipstick test device. The process takes about 10 minutes.
Silliker Names Illinois Lab Director
Bradley A. Stawick was named laboratory director of Silliker, Inc.’s Chicago Heights, IL, testing facility. He is responsible for scientific operations, quality systems, and staff to provide accurate, timely services to processors, distributors, and retailers.
Since joining Silliker in 1992, Stawick has served in several laboratory supervisory positions. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois-Champaign with a master’s degree in food science.
U.S., China Feed Organizations Ready to Sign Agreement
In mid-April, The American Feed Industry Association and the China Feed Industry Association were close to signing an agreement of cooperation on several areas of benefit to their respective memberships.
The agreement will strive to harmonize international feed industry positions; collaborate on developments impacting feed regulatory issues; strengthen the feed industry’s voice on global issues; establish communication channels; establish a dialogue on trade policies; and provide new educational opportunities.
Plans were to finalize the agreement at an upcoming meeting.
June 2002 Render