Cause of Fertilizer Plant Blast Remains Unclear

BLOOMINGTON – The specifics regarding the deadly explosion last week at a West, Texas facility involving fertilizer are unclear at press time (April 20), according to officials with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA) and Washington, D.C.-based The Fertilizer Institute. “As of now it appears they are considering it an accident,” said Kevin Runkle, director of regulatory services for the IFCA, who described the facility as a fertilizer and agricultural supply retail outlet and grain elevator. “It’s unclear which products ignited. There are a number of possibilities.”

The tragedy, which claimed 14 lives as of press time, unfolded in the 2,800 person town around 8 pm on Wednesday, April 17 when a fire was reported at the West Fertilizer Company. Eleven of the dead were volunteer emergency responders who apparently answered the initial fire call at the facility. Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco treated 98 patients, including five in intensive care, while Providence Health Center of Waco received 65 patients from the explosion, according to FoxNews.com. In addition, up to 75 homes were damaged along with an apartment complex, which was described as destroyed.

Jean Payne, president of the IFCA, said Illinois fertilizer dealers welcome government inspection and oversight of their facilities.  “A lot of the questions I’ve gotten are whether fertilizer facilities here in Illinois store the same type of products that the facility in Texas did, and generally the answer is yes. We store nitrogen-based fertilizers in various forms, and a lot of facilities store fuel and store propane. While they don’t know yet the cause of the explosion and may not for some time, I’ve been reassuring people that this is one of the reasons why our industry advocates for a lot of safety and inspection measures at our facilities for anhydrous ammonia and other forms of nitrate-based fertilizers,” said Payne, in a podcast circulated by the ICGA late last week.

NH3 Safety Offered to Students

BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association’s new Head Start Training Program for ag students from community colleges had already been announced when news of the West, Texas fertilizer plant tragedy reached the IFCA office. The program, which kicks off April 30 at the Asmark Institute in Bloomington with 24 students from Springfield’s Lincoln Land Community College, will serve to give students a head start on peers preparing to enter the ag retail industry, the IFCA’s Kevin Runkle said.

“I think it will be a successful program. The hard part is getting the word out, letting community colleges know that the program exists,” he said, adding that IFCA worked out a special “pilot” curriculum of ag safety courses for the students at Lincoln Land after professors there contacted Runkle expressing interest. The program will focus on training ag students in proper methods for anhydrous ammonia handling, HAZMAT, confined space entry, forklift operation and other areas of industry concern.

“If we can offer agriculture students proper safety training, then we have done a great service to the industry by preparing the next generation for a career in the ag retail industry,” stated Allen Summers, Asmark Institute president, in a news release announcing the program. Summers and Runkle are optimistic other community colleges will seek to enroll their ag students in the new training program.

LaHood, Vilsack Continue Push For Renewable Aviation Fuels

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Peorian Ray LaHood, currently serving as U.S. Transportation Secretary under President Obama, and U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week the five-year extension of the USDA’s agreement to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other partners to develop biofuels for the aviation industry. The announcement came at the Advanced Biofuels Summit in Maryland.

“Through the use of sustainable alternative jet fuels, we are showing the world that we can come together to solve our greatest environmental challenges,” said LaHood, who had announced plans to step down as Transportation Secretary following Obama’s second inauguration, but remains at the helm while awaiting the announcement of a successor. “In his State of the Union Address, President Obama called on us to work together to reduce carbon emissions– developing these alternative jet fuels will do just that, while creating jobs and helping airlines save money on fuel.”

The new agreement signals the continuation of the “Farm to Fly” initiative to explore and expand production of renewable aviation fuels. For the most recent report on this initiative, see “Agriculture and Aviaiton: Partners in Prosperity” parts one and two at www.usda.gov/documents/usda-farm-to-fly-report-jan-2012-pdf. (USDA press release)

ISA Director Positions Available

BLOOMINGTON – Director positions with the Illinois Soybean Association in six districts in Illinois– including District 6, comprising Woodford, McLean and Livingston counties– are up for grabs, the organization announced. Current District 6 director Rob Shaffer of El Paso is eligible to serve another three-year term.

To be eligible to serve as an ISA district director, candidates must be a resident of the state and the district he or she seeks to represent, of legal voting age and a contributor to the soybean checkoff. District Six candidates must accumulate 154 signatures before May 15 in order to qualify for the position. Elections will be held on July 2 for three-year terms beginning August 1. The Illinois Soybean Board manages and invests Illinois soybean checkoff funds in research, promotion and education programs. Contact the ISA at 888-826-4011 for more information on these positions.

Illinois Farm Fact:

Before torrential rains tore through Illinois last week, spilling rivers and streams over their banks and engulfing low-lying agricultural lands, central Illinois’ topsoil moisture level was rated as 75 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus, on average. Subsoil moisture in central Illinois was rated at 84 percent adequate and nine percent surplus. (USDA-NASS Illinois Weather & Crops Report, April 15)

(Tim Alexander is a freelance reporter who writes agriculture, news and feature articles for the News Bulletin, Farm World and many other publications.)