Issuu

Vol. X No. 6

November/December 2016

Serving Soil, Mulch, Compost & Wood Pellet Producers www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com

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y k S e h t o t s k o o L Industry With Drones

By P.J. Heller

oil, mulch and compost producers may soon be flying high, launching drones with sophisticated software to quickly and cost-effectively measure inventory, map their areas and improve safety. Used by both military and civilians, the latter primarily for aerial photography and videography, drones -- or unmanned aerial vehicles or unmanned aircraft systems -- are increasingly finding their way into commercial usage by surveying, aggregate and mining companies, news organizations, paper manufacturers and emergency responders, among others. “I don’t think there is a better example of changing times than what we’re seeing with drones,” said Federal Aviation Administration administrator Michael Huerta. “They’re being used in so many industries like filmmaking, agriculture, search and rescue operations, inspections of rail tracks and pipelines, and many others. “We are only beginning to see some of the ingenious uses of new and miniaturized technologies developed for drones,” he told an Air Traffic Control Association conference in a keynote speech. Globally, consumer drone sales are expected to quadruple over the next five years, with revenues increasing from $8 billion to more than $12 billion, according to Business Insider. “Growth in the enterprise sector will outpace the consumer sector in both shipments and revenues as regulations open up new use cases in the U.S. and EU, the two biggest potential markets for enterprise drones,” it reports.

The FAA estimates the number of drone operators-for-hire may exceed the nation’s 171,000 private pilots within a year. Drone technology was on display and discussed at the Mulch and Soil Council’s annual meeting in October as the industry explored how it can benefit from its use. Among the conference speakers was Lauren Elmore of Firmatek in San Antonio, Texas, who discussed drone solutions and 3-D mapping for inventory control. “Drone solutions make it easier to collect data, and therefore can help you manage your inventory better,” says Elmore, president and co-owner of Firmatek, which provides stockpile measurement, inventory management and mapping services to a variety of industries. “With drones it’s become so much easier to capture the data and much more cost-effective for clients to capture the data.” Drone technology is also significantly faster for mapping inventory piles, cutting the time from weeks or months to hours, she says. Lewis Graham, president and chief technology officer at GeoCue Group in Madison, Ala., agrees that drones offer substantial benefits to businesses such as mulch and soil manufacturers. “Any industry that stockpiles inventory in uncovered locations is a candidate for dronebased inventory tracking,” he says. “It’s really an enabling technology, something that wasn’t available before,” says Graham, whose company and its subsidiary, AirGon, provide tools for airborne and mobile laser scanning as well as technology for drone Continued on page 3

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Soil & Mulch Producer News November / December 2016

Industry Looks to the Sky With Drones

Continued from page 1

collected stockpile volumetrics and mine site mapping. “Drone mapping technology offers a fast and efficient way to measure/map areas that are predominately non-vegetated,” he says, adding that drones can “see” the tops of tall or inverted piles, providing more accurate measurements. Both Elmore and Graham say drones offer numerous other advantages for soil and mulch companies. “Without a doubt, safety is improved,” Graham insists. “No need for surveyors to spend extended periods of time moving around equipment such as trucks and loaders. Of course, it also removes the need to climb or walk on piles.” Elmore concurs, “One of the points I like to bring up about drones is it makes it much safer to collect the data than it ever has been in the past,” she says. “You don’t have to walk on piles . . . You can stand pretty far away and go fly it and not have to worry about being in the way of any trucks coming in or out. It makes it much safer.” Drones can also be equipped with an infrared (IR) camera, which can detect hot spots at mulch and compost facilities, potentially averting fires caused by spontaneous combustion. “By placing dual cameras on the drone (visible and IR), the flights could be dual purpose: inventory and hot spot detection,” Graham says. Mulch and soil producers have several options when it comes to utilizing a drone. They can purchase or lease a complete system consisting of the drone and software; buy their own drone and software with data processing provided either by themselves or by companies such as Firmatek or AirGon, or can arrange for a service provider to handle the entire flying, software, and data processing operations. The additional cost of utilizing an outside service provider to do everything could partially be offset by having more frequent surveys and more accurate figures, Elmore notes. Even so, the cost of gathering and processing data is so cost-effective that “there’s really not a reason why people cannot start using this technology. It makes a lot of sense for producers of soil and mulch . . .” she says. “For those who decide they want to do the measurement work internally, drones are an excellent choice since the entire process can be learned in a few days and the complete kit, especially when using a low cost drone such as a DJI Inspire, is affordable,” Graham adds. “Somebody who owns their own business can buy a drone and software and learn how to use it pretty quickly and go do their own volumetrics. That makes it a lot handier to do monthly surveys instead of every six months.”

The technology has made surveying much less expensive than it has been in the past, Graham says. “It’s reduced the cost of doing the surveys and also made it accessible to owner-operators. I don’t have to call in an expert anymore. I can do it myself and that lowers the cost and raises the convenience,” he explains. Consumer drones, such as the Phantom 4, Phantom 4 Pro or Mavic Pro from DJI are all suitable for survey purposes. They range in price from just under $1,000 to about $1,500. Total packages, including a drone and software, for volumetric mapping and contour mapping can run $10,000 and up, depending on the number of sites to be surveyed and number of deliverables required. “We prefer the idea of combining competent software with a low cost drone such as a DJI Phantom or Inspire as a better approach to getting started,” Graham says. Among AirGon’s offerings is a Bring Your Own Drone (BYOD) Mapping Kit that includes all the software necessary for programming a drone to follow a mapping collection flight plan, the software for generating point clouds and ortho images as well as the analytic software for extracting information such as volumes. The Continued on page 5

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PUBLICATION STAFF Publisher / Editor Rick Downing Contributing Editors / Writers P. J. Heller • Michael McGrady Mark Ramsey • Sandy Woodthorpe Production & Layout Barb Fontanelle • Christine Pavelka Advertising Sales Rick Downing Subscription / Circulation Donna Downing Editorial, Circulation & Advertising Office 6075 Hopkins Road, Mentor, OH 44060 Ph: 440-257-6453 • Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com Subscription information, call 440-257-6453. Soil & Mulch Producer News is published bimonthly by Downing & Associates. Reproductions or transmission in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited. Annual subscription rate U.S. is $19.95. Outside of the U.S. add $10.00 ($29.95). Contact our main office, or mail-in the subscription form with payment. ©

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News

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Pacific Northwest Timber Belt Hopeful Following Election

iddle, OR – According to Oregon Public Broadcasting and Associated Press reports, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s campaign speeches about restructuring environmental laws and trade agreements to lift the Northwest Timber Belt out of economic doldrums have people feeling hopeful, if not altogether optimistic. Logging in the area’s federal lands once was central to the region’s economic wealth. That changed in the past 40 years with automation, recessions, and opposition from environmentalists, regulations and trade agreements. In his visits to the region, Trump talked up changes he would make – particularly, to what he considers burdensome federal regulations that have stymied the timber industry. Laws that Trump could slate for scrutiny and revision include the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act and even the Clean Water Act. Also, as president, he could set off broad changes in U.S. Forest Service leadership and operations, making it easier for timber companies to exploit federally managed forests. As for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Trump could push for changes to give the U.S. better footing with Canadian exports. As 2016 ends and the new administration is being formed, trade groups such as Associated Oregon Loggers, are waiting to see who Trump appoints to cabinet and agency positions. Environmental groups, such as Oregon Wild and the American Forest Resource Council brace for a fight as they count on Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to vehemently oppose any dismantling of the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act. Also figuring prominently in discussions is The Northwest Forest Plan, which has restricted logging on federal lands in the region since being signed into law by President Clinton in 1994. Ernie Neimi, representing Natural Resource Economics, a nonprofit based in Eugene, says that the numbers Trump has used when referring to the timber industry are correct, but they don’t tell the whole story. Trump has stated that three-fourths of the mills closed since the 1980s, and that half of the timber jobs have been lost since 1990. However, according to Neimi, the reality is that the once abundant number of small mills were actually driven out of business because they could no longer compete with the larger companies that could afford to automate.

German Waste Wood Market Remains Jumpy

ccording to latest Euwid-recycling.com update on Germany’s waste wood market, 2016 is closing on a note of uncertainty. German processors and recyclers have been turning away wood for two main reasons: existing high inventories that must be sold, and concerns about fire hazards related to reaching unsafe storage limits. “Supply pressure is clearly stronger in southern Germany, and here above all for category A IV waste wood (material containing wood preservatives or other hazardous substances), than in the west and east of the country,” the report authors say. Notably, power plant outages contributed to some of the oversupply. The result has been that haulers had to truck wood waste over longer distances just to dispose of it. Euwid reports that the situation has eased slightly, at least in some regions, where incineration plants were back up and running after lengthy stoppages. A few incineration plants continued to process imported volumes, however, to meet their contractual obligations and also to keep up the pressure on the market. The full report on the waste wood market in Germany including the price table appears in issue 23/2016 of EUWID Recycling and Waste Management on 9 November 2016.

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Soil

Industry Looks to the Sky With Drones

Continued from page 3

kit costs $7,990. “Thus for $10,000 to $12,000 you have a complete mapping/ volumetrics system,” Graham says. Firmatek tailors its packages to its clients, offerings both a complete system or just software and processing services. Typical turnaround after data is uploaded to Firmatek is 48 hours or less. Businesses wanting to fly their own drones need to be aware of FAA regulations, as well as any potential state or local regulations. The FAA in June announced rules making it easier for companies to use drones for commercial purposes. Those rules require an operator to be at least 16 years of age, to pass a written test at an FAA testing facility and to pass a security background check conducted by the TSA. There are numerous courses available to help people pass the written test. “Our experience has shown that a person with no prior knowledge can pass this exam with about 12 hours of preparation time,” Graham says. “It’s very easy to do, then you can legally fly your drone,” Elmore adds. The rules require ta drone to weigh less than 55 pounds and to be registered with the FAA, which can be done online. (More than half a million drones have been registered as of October, according to the agency). Other rules limit drones to a maximum altitude of 400 feet, to be flown only during the day and they must remain within the visual line-of-sight of the operator. “The drone operator has to follow all [FAA] Part 107 rules,” Graham says. “For inventory management over private sites, these seldom present any barriers.” Elmore says learning to fly a drone and collect data is so simple “you could teach a child to do it. “We go out and show somebody a couple of times how we do it, maybe two or three times. We let them do it a couple of times and then we’re off . . . It’s pretty foolproof, actually. There’s really not much you can do wrong as long as the hardware and software are working correctly. It’s very, very easy to use.”

Sudden Oak Death Threatens West Coast Forests

erkeley, CA – According to the nonprofit group, California Oak Mortality Task Force, this year’s rainy spring has contributed to the largest Sudden Oak Death (SOD) infestation in a decade. SOD is caused by the pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, which mainly attacks tree bark, but also can affect foliage and twigs of other tree and shrub species. P. ramorum infestation leads widespread dieback of tanoak and oak species, including coast live oak, California black oak, Shreve oak, and canyon live oak. Other affected species include California bay laurel, Douglas-fir, coast redwood, Japanese larch and certain maples), in addition to landscaping ornamentals, such as rhododendron, laurel and viburnums. The disease has been detected in counties from San Luis Obispo northward since the mid-1990s and in Oregon forests, as well. “This is the most significant increase in SOD in California since the SOD Blitz, a monitoring program, began in 2006. Whether or not this surge of new infection continues will depend on rainfall levels this coming winter and spring. Significant rain could mean a lot of new infection; whereas, a dry year could slow disease spread substantially,” said Matteo Garbelotto, UC Berkeley Forest Pathology and Mycology, and SOD Blitz founder. Along with the threat to forest ecosystems over time, the disease has had an impact on wood exports. East Asian countries have banned exports from the West Coast in order to prevent spread of the pathogen there.

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News

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Aerated Soil Supports Healthy Turf

rbana, IL – Although it’s true that core aeration relieves soil compaction in the lawn, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator says coring has several more benefits for the grass plant soil profile, microbial activity in the ground, and thatch management. “When the soil beneath the lawn is compacted, grass roots grow poorly,” says Richard Hentschel. “They stay nearer to the surface and are more readily affected by droughts. Coring allows the soil to relax and expand into the vacated core. This allows deeper roots. To encourage deeper roots, the core allows more soil oxygen into the profile along with water. Both of these promote deeper rooting of your lawn grasses, which allow better disease resistance, for example.” Another benefit is the lawn’s ability to remain green and actively growing during a brief drought. “If any topdressing is done with quality

black dirt or using well-composted organic matter, this material will find its way into the core as well, improving the soil profile,” he says. “Any kind of organic matter will also support the microbial life in the ground, improving the symbiotic relationship between the grass root system and the microbes in the soil. Research shows that if the soil is in good health with teaming microbial activity, it in turn supports good grass growth by providing critical elements to the grass plant.” According to Hentschel, core aeration can also maintain thatch levels under one-half inch. “Homeowners hear the word ‘thatch’ and often think the worst,” Hentschel says. “In fact, having some thatch has benefits to the lawn. Thatch acts as insulation protecting the crown of the grass plant from quick changes in the weather, such as a sudden drop in temperature. Thatch also

provides a cushion from foot traffic, protecting the grass plant crown from being crushed or damaged. Coring breaks through the thatch layer opening up those opportunities for air and water movement. When the core is ejected by the machine, there is also a plug of soil that is left on the surface. That soil containing those microbes can now begin to break down the thatch layer.” Hentschel cautions that when the thatch layer is well over one-half inch in depth, using a dethatching machine will often result in the loss of the entire lawn. Coring is a way to recover the lawn without such a drastic measure. “This will not happen in one season and other management activities, such as high rates of fertilizers, should be modified.” Core aeration alone will benefit the health of the lawn, Hentschel concludes. “Combining topdressing with any re-seeding or over seeding along with regular watering for at least three weeks will really turn the lawn around. Bluegrass lawns have two peak growing cycles in our climate. The greening and rapid growing in the spring is the first one. The second flush or growth is more about the root system expanding and storing food reserves in the cooler temperatures of fall. There is still growth above ground and mowing should continue well into late fall with a sharp mower blade.”

Sonoma County Composting: It Keeps Truckin’ On

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Soil & Mulch Producer News November / December 2016

e n wo o d , C A – A c c o r d i n g t o a KenwoodPress.com article, some Sonoma, CA residents are still disappointed their one food waste composting facility, Sonoma Compost, was shut down a little over a year ago. The facility’s closure has resulted in a slew of problems. Residents have been left without a convenient source of compost and the solid waste district has seen tipping fees go from $40 a ton to $80 a ton. Because the Sonoma waste had to be transported to Marin, Napa, Solano, and Mendocino counties, there was the matter of bringing it back to the county in the form of compost. But the trucks carrying the waste to the other counties needed to be sterilized or washed down before loading fresh compost at their destination points. This was not always possible, so Sonoma residents saw shortages of compost. Then last May, plans for a new central composting facility in Sonoma were blocked by a group of residents concerned about runoff into a nearby stream. Now the County is seeking bids to build multiple compost facilities with different capacities. Any new facilities would have to be funded by future operators, county officials say. Meanwhile, the existence of the solid waste district is up in the air. An extension allows the district to continue until 2018, but as of yet, no consensus has been reached as to which municipalities will remain part of the district.

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News

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New Tool for Drought Prediction

oulder, CO – Study findings published in the, show that data on snowmelt and soil moisture could have provided advance notice of a 2012 late summer drought that parched the Southern Rockies and Midwest. Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) retrospectively looked at soil moisture and snowpack data to understand how those factors contributed to the drought and how such data might be used to predict future dry periods. According to a 2013 USA Today article, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist linked the 2012 “flash drought” to the absence of low-pressure systems that normally bring May-June showers and July-August thunderstorms. With economic losses totaling $35 billion, that drought was one of the worst in the U.S. since the height of the Dust Bowl, the study’s lead author noted. Flash droughts – dry conditions that form and intensify rapidly – can seem to appear out of nowhere. Observing certain large-scale atmospheric patterns can alert forecasters to trouble a month or two ahead, but the new study shows that terrestrial signs can improve accuracy. Using soil moisture data alone could increase the lead-time of drought predictions by one to two months, the NCAR scientists learned. They wanted to see if adding snowpack data to the equation could extend forecast time even further. According to a blog post by NCAR Public Information Officer, Laura Snider: “The new study analyzed data collected between 1980-2012 to explore the physical connections among snowpack, soil moisture, and drought. To supplement those observations, the scientists also explored the physical connections in a new NCARbased community Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model dataset comprising 24 simulations of the period 1990-2000 and 2012. Because each simulation was run with small tweaks to the way the model represents atmospheric physics, the result was a broad look at different climate scenarios that could have plausibly unfolded during the study period.” While soil moisture and snowpack data have been established as helpful, the study authors concluded that forecasters should consider all the drought precursors. The NCAR study was funded by Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, National Science Foundation.

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Soil & Mulch Producer News November / December 2016

Composting No Longer Feasible, Black Bear Shuts Down Operations

rimora, VA – A Shenandoah Valley-based composting facility that has been serving universities and residents since 2010 will be shutting down in December, reports DailyProgress.com. Eric Walter, owner of Black Bear Composting, says the operation is just not profitable anymore. The decision comes despite the company’s impressive list of institutional clientele – the University of Virginia, the UVa Health System and Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, public schools, library systems and even some grocery stores. Neither residential curbside pickup nor sales of compost have added enough revenue to keep going. Although Black Bear has been recycling a variety of organic materials – yard waste, food waste, bi-compostable packing materials, and even dairy and meat products, there just hasn’t been enough volume to grow the business. And there’s competition. It’s not from other composters, but rather the solid waste disposal companies and landfills that accept mixed trash, treated sewage sludge and yard waste in the absence of state bans. Walter says that Virginia is a big importer of solid waste and that represents significant revenue in tipping fees. According to the Virginia Department of Environment Quality’s 2016 annual solid waste report, Virginia imported about 5.36 million tons of solid waste, mainly from Maryland, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Alternatives are being considered by Black Bear’s customers and the institutions that are hooked on composting.

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Study: EPA Regulations Impose Huge Burden on States By Mark Ramsey

recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce (COC) study strongly criticizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for imposing unfunded federal mandates on states and industry for little benefit. The Chamber says the number of federal regulations and the associated costs have grown considerably during the past decade. According to the study, released in August, although EPA makes the states responsible for 96.5 percent of the enforcement of federal environmental laws, the funding it grants to the states to cover enforcement costs has declined in recent years. Today, no state is reimbursed for more than 53 percent of its enforcement costs.

Most states were reimbursed for less than 30 percent of what it cost them to enforce federal mandates they oversee, with some receiving less than 15 percent of their costs reimbursed.

Feds Ignore Their Own Laws

he report also states EPA routinely fails to comply with the 1995 Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), which requires EPA and other federal government agencies to assess the effects new regulations have on state and local governments. EPA only provided the required assessment for six of 8,733 new regulations implemented from 2000 through 2015, according to the report’s authors.

The report’s authors also say the prevalence of “sue-and-settle” agreements between environmentalists and federal agencies is increasing. Sue-and-settle is particularly problematic because agencies, especially EPA, often accept these lawsuits “from outside advocacy groups that [redirect] the priorities and responsibilities of the agency through legally binding, court-approved settlements negotiated behind closed doors—with no participation by other affected parties, including states, or the public.” The report also found EPA has failed to adequately consult with state regulatory agencies when developing new regulations, deciding upon the types of actions allowed to meet new standards, or when accepting settlement agreements, despite such consultations being required under various environmental laws. The report also found under the Obama administration, EPA has rejected a growing number of state implementation plans, substituting its own Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) in their place, essentially taking over many state environmental programs and undermining federalism. EPA under Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush substituted federal FIPs for state implementation plans fewer than 10 times combined, while President Barack Obama’s EPA has imposed more than 50 FIPs on the states. According to various laws, the federal government is supposed to set standards, but the states are tasked with determining how best to meet those standards. Continued on next page

Attention: Co-bagging operations

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Continued from previous page

Imposing Huge Costs

exas state Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford), chair of the Texas House State and Federal Power and Responsibility Select Committee, says EPA is oblivious to the huge costs it is imposing on states and businesses with its new regulations. “Ninety percent of all the laws, rules, and regulations coming from EPA are coming from an agency whose employees for the most part don’t understand the difficulty a state has in carrying out its responsibilities,” King said. “And on top of that, they certainly have not been in the business world and [do not] understand how at the end of the day that translates into such an incredible burden for business owners, property owners, families, and whoever is affected by the rules.” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has sued the federal government and EPA numerous times in recent years, says federal regulations go beyond what the law allows and says the COC report is a powerful indictment of EPA’s actions. “This [COC] report underscores the costs of this runaway agency to Americans who have long-suffered the effects of over-regulation,” said Paxton. “The EPA has clearly exceeded its authority in imposing a multitude of new rules, ignoring both the law and prior court decisions when it suits them.”

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Mark Ramsey (m15@ramseyweb.com) writes from Houston, Texas. This article was reprinted with permission from heartland.org, a product of The Heartland Institute (https://www.heartland. org/news-opinion/news/study-epa-regulationsimpose-huge-burden-on-states).

Town of Ulster, NY Scores Big with Food Waste Composting

own of Ulster, NY – This Mid-Hudson Valley town has increased its food waste collection by nearly 75 percent since last year, reports DailyFreeman.com. By expanding its organic waste recycling, the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency has diverted more than 386 tons of food waste from landfill and at the same time, boosted revenues by selling the compost it makes from the table scraps. The agency’s three-month revenue from selling composted food waste was $42,888, up 26 percent from last year. A city spokesperson says the success would not have been possible without receiving state approval to increase food waste from 500 tons to 1,000 tons. The revenue of compost sales to landscapers and residents has offset additional transport costs.

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 11

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Milwaukee Zoo Recycles Herbivore Manure

ilwaukee, WI – Last summer, the Milwaukee Zoo began recycling manure from its herbivore residents to make rich, marketable compost, according to JSOnline and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. With the launch of its new manure recycling program, an annual 11 tons of waste is expected to be removed from the zoo’s cages of elephants, zebras, antelope, rhinos, camels, kangaroos and cows. The project got off the ground when the zoo partnered with Blue Ribbon Organics, a local composting business. Once Blue Ribbon secured approval from the State Department of Natural Resources to handle herbivore “zoo poo,” the composter was cleared to send a special vacuum truck to the facility each morning. Blue Ribbon processes the compost in large windrows at its open air recycling yard about 30 miles away from the zoo. Owner, James Jutrzonka, says his company will start selling last summer’s composted animal waste in spring of 2017. Waste from the zoo’s carnivore residents – tigers, lions and bears – cannot be composted and must be taken to a landfill. Bird droppings also go to landfill – there’s not enough volume to compost it, zoo officials explained.

Feds Hiding Lawsuit Payoffs Made to Environmental Groups

Since 2009 more than $49 million has been paid by federal agencies to environmental groups and lawyers engaged in “citizen lawsuits” against the Obama administration, with the identities of the recipients of the payouts being kept secret. By Michael McGrady

recent analysis conducted by The Daily Caller shows since 2009, more than $49 million has been paid by federal agencies to environmental groups that have engaged in “citizen lawsuits” against the Obama administration. About $25 million went to lawyers and firms whose names have been redacted from publicly available records. Many of the lawsuits examined also resulted in federal agencies expanding environmental regulations through “sueand-settle” agreements. Sue-and-settle is an increasingly common strategy used by environmental groups. Groups that use sueand-settle file a lawsuit against the federal government for allegedly not enforcing environmental rules or not issuing regulations as quickly as they should be under certain statutes. Rather than fighting many of these claims, agencies have settled the lawsuits, resulting in new rules being enacted without consultation from the states and without public input, which are required by federal law.

Lack of Transparency

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he names of most of the lawyers and firms involved in the environmental litigation were either redacted or not named in the settlements made from 2009 through 2015. The Department of Treasury maintains a Judgement Fund to pay court judgements and settlements of lawsuits against the federal government. Records in the Judgement Fund databases should identify the parties to the lawsuits and their attorneys. According to The Daily Caller analysis, more than half, 57 percent, of the plaintiffs’ lawyers in the citizen lawsuits are unnamed in the records. Only 24 percent of the law firms are named, 16.6 percent of the employers of the lawyers remain “unclear,” and 2.3 percent of the names of plaintiffs listed in the lawsuits are partially redacted. “The bureaucracy isn’t interested in transparency here, because it doesn’t want the public to know what is going on,” said Amy Ridenour, chairman of the National Center for Public Policy Research. “Congress should smack down the secrecy by mandating disclosure of all settled suits and all payouts, to the smallest detail. “These are lawsuits about public policy, not personal matters, so there’s no need for privacy,” Ridenour said.

12 Soil & Mulch Producer News November / December 2016

‘Bypassing Democracy’

arc Morano, publisher of Climate Depot and a former senior staffer to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, says sue-and-settle ultimately bypasses the legislative process. “Environmental laws used to be passed by Congress with the consent of the governed,” said Morano. “Now, we can add sue-and-settle lawsuits as yet another means by which to bypass democracy, along with EPA executive orders and presidential self-ratifying U.N. agreements. “[Do you] want to legislate your own environmental regulations? It’s easy,” said Morano. “Just sue the feds and your identity will be protected and your legal fees covered.” Ridenour says citizen lawsuits resulting in settlement agreements are “anti-democratic.” “These co-called ‘citizen lawsuits’ are a hypocritical, anti-democratic scam,” said Ridenour. “They aren’t ‘citizen suits’ at all, but special interest lawsuits designed to expand regulations and affect policy without the citizenry having any say. “Laws should be written by members of Congress, who are elected by and are theoretically accountable to the people,” Ridenour said. “Instead, through these lawsuits, special interests—typically left-wing environmental organizations—band together with unelected bureaucrats to sue for a desired outcome and then settle the suit in a manner desired by the special interests and by the bureaucrats. Public opinion doesn’t matter.

Michael McGrady (mmcgrady@uccs.edu) writes from Colorado Springs, Colorado. This article was reprinted with permission from heartland.org, a product of The Heartland Institute (https://www. heartland.org/news-opinion/news/feds-hidinglawsuit-payoffs-made-to-environmental-groups).

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 13

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Survey of NY Soil Uncovers Medicine-Making Microbes

ew York, NY – Research at New York’s Rockefeller University indicates that the soil in your backyard may be the home of new weapons against a broad range of diseases, according to a Newswire. Rockefeller.edu article. Study findings published in the November 28 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggest that possibilities leading to a huge number of treatments are waiting to be found in soil just about everywhere, not just exotic or environmentally-sensitive locations. The Rockefeller study methodology represents an important departure from traditional NP (natural products) discovery efforts. Traditional NP discovery typically involves global searches for natural ecosystems from which bacteria can be cultured. The Rockefeller study shows that exploring local microbiomes may prove equally, if not, more productive than traditional investigations. Senior study author, Sean F. Brady, heads Rockefeller’s Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, which ran the DNA sequences. Brady says that only a fraction of soil bacteria can be grown in the lab, and this limits scientists’ ability to exploit them. So, to investigate populations of soil microbes for the study, a team of high school students fanned out to city parks to collect 275 soil samples. The samples were then sent to Barnard College to isolate the DNA. Barnard sent the samples on to Rockefeller where scientists decoded the precise genetic sequences, and then compared their samples to those from two families of compounds known to yield therapeutic molecules. The most important finding, the scientists said, is the abundance of unfamiliar genes. The study was conducted in collaboration with the nonprofit Natural Areas Conservancy. Brady’s lab continues to examine soil samples from around the United States for genes encoding potentially useful compounds. They solicit samples from members of the public at: www.drugsfromdirt.org.

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 15

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

When Composting Becomes Popular

rince George’s County, MD – An article on Governing.com reports that municipalities are scrambling to meet the consumer demand for food waste recycling programs. The situation is leading to waitlists, resident-funded curbside pick-up and drop-off programs with participation rates as high as 4,000 households. In Prince George’s County, Md., residents are willing to pay $20 to $30 a month for food scrap pick-up. The county began collecting yard waste in 1991, composting it into a trademarked mulch product called Leafgro. Several years ago, the county expanded into food waste composting. But the program availability is limited. As food waste recycling is gaining in popularity, people expect curbside pickup to happen practically overnight and this is just not possible in most places. According to the U.S. Composting Council, food waste recycling

has doubled in the last five years, from around 100 communities in 2011 to at least 198 across 19 states today. Municipalities are feeling the pressure of state-mandated bans on food waste in landfills, not to mention edicts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, which have set a goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2030. To help municipalities respond to the demand and also meet food waste recycling goals, the U.S. Composting Council has developed a toolkit with guidelines for local governments on how to set up a program, from building awareness to managing program logistics. The council also offers model legislation to help states upgrade their current rules regarding siting and permitting.

ADVERTISER NEWS Bandit Industries Welcomes Bobcat of Indy to Expanding Dealer Network

obcat of Indy has joined Bandit Industries as the company’s newest Bandit Authorized Dealer. Serving customers throughout central Indiana, Bobcat of Indy provides sales, parts and service for Bandit hand-fed chippers and stump grinders from four locations - Bobcat of Indy, Bobcat of Indy North, Bobcat of Bloomington and Bobcat of Anderson. Originally founded in 1947 as Snider Bros. Inc., Bobcat of Indy has over a half-century of experience with equipment. Their speciallytrained staff is ready to assist Bandit customers across central Indiana including the towns of Lafayette, Muncie and Terre Haute. “The people at Bobcat of Indy share our commitment to customer service,” said Bandit Industries Sales Manager Jason Morey. “They are well-known and respected throughout the region, and we are excited to be working with them.”

Rotochopper, Inc. Hosts 6th Annual Demo Day

ith over 200 attendees, Rotochopper’s 6 annual Demo Day was its largest event yet, bringing in customers and prospects from all over the world to see the “Perfect In One Pass” advantage live and in person. The day began with tours of the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, giving attendees the opportunity to see Rotochopper grinders in every stage of manufacture, from cutting to final inspection and testing. The facility tours also allowed guests to meet the teams who design, build, and support their Rotochopper equipment. Rotochopper’s President/CEO Art de St. Aubin welcomed attendees with opening remarks that focused on the benefits of working with a factory-direct manufacturer. The demonstrations began with Rotochopper’s 950 hp B-66 showing off the convenience of a Track & Dolly system, coming in the yard on tires, switching to tracks and ready to grind logs & whole trees within minutes. Through the course of the day, Rotochopper completed more than 20 demos with a variety of raw materials and end products, featuring 10 machines.

16 Soil & Mulch Producer News November / December 2016

Morbark® Appoints David Herr New CEO

orbark, a manufacturer of equipment used in forestry, recycling, tree care, landscaping, sawmill and biomass markets, recently announced the appointment of David Herr as Chief Executive Officer. In addition to being an active member of the current Morbark Board, he brings extensive knowledge from experience with both products and services companies. He replaces Dan Ruskin, who resigned due to health issues. “The Board is thankful for Dan’s leadership over the past six months as the Company has transitioned to the next phase in its development,” said Ray Whiteman, Chairman of the Board. “Our thoughts are with Dan and his family, and we wish him a speedy recovery.” Ruskin said, “It has been an enormous privilege to have led Morbark during this period of important change and growth. I remain confident that Dave and the team will continue to execute Morbark’s strategy and that the Company will enjoy continued success in the future.”

Bandit Launches New MobileFriendly Banditchippers.com Website

andit Industries has a new home on the internet. The website address is still the same - www.banditchippers.com - but the site features all-new content with easy-to-navigate menus. The new banditchippers.com is also optimized for mobile devices, so it can be easily viewed and navigated through smart phones and tablets. “Our previous website did a good job of showcasing Bandit equipment and current news, but it wasn’t designed for use with mobile devices and that’s something we very much wanted to address,” said Bandit Industries Marketing Manager Aaron Sorrels. “When we dove into this update, it was clear from the beginning that the best way forward was to start from scratch, so that’s exactly what we did.” The new banditchippers.com also emphasizes a stronger visual experience for visitors. Aside from photos throughout the site, each machine features a scrolling photo gallery, some of which include short embedded videos. All Bandit worldwide dealer locations can be easily located by either searching specific model lines or locations, or by browsing an interactive map.

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 17

Product/Equipment Profiles

ASV LLC Introduces the RT-75 Compact Track Loader

SV LLC, a manufacturer o f a l l purpose and allseason compact track loaders and skidsteers, introduces the largeframe, radial-lift PosiTrack RT-75 compact track loader. The RT75 features highly efficient hydraulics and an innovative, high capacity cooling system while delivering excellent serviceability. ASV’s patented Posi-Track undercarriage provides high ground clearance, low ground pressure, excellent traction and long track life. The RT-75 excels in overall performance. The machine features a rated operating capacity of 2,650 pounds and a tipping load of 7,571 pounds. It is 70 inches wide and has a 126-inch lift height. Standard joystick controls make operation easy and intuitive. It comes with an optional all-weather cab that includes heat and air-conditioning and is pressurized for a clean operator environment. ASV LLC is a joint venture between Manitex International Inc. and Terex Inc. For more information: ASV LLC, 840 Lily Ln, Grand Rapids, MN 55744; call 800-205-9913; fax 218-327-9122; sales@asvllc.com; www.asvllc.com; www.positrack.com

Bandit Announces Enhanced Intimidator™ Hand-Fed Drum Chippers

a n d i t I ndustr ies h a s reintroduced its h a n d - fe d d r u m chipper line with a new look, minor enhancements, and new model names that reflect the chipper’s rated chipping capacity. Now called Intimidator™ XP, the recast line of chippers are still the familiar machines that tens of thousands of professionals around the world work with every day. In addition to the Intimidator 15XP, the rest of Bandit’s hand-fed drum chipper line includes the Intimidator 12XP (Model 990XP), Intimidator 18XP (Model 1590XP), Intimidator 19XP (Model 1890XP) and the Intimidator 21XP (Model 1990XP). Some of the equipment enhancements across all Bandit hand-fed chippers include new gasoline and Tier 4 final diesel engine options, with fuel saver systems standard on Intimidator models using diesel power. All Bandit Intimidator hand-fed chippers now feature reversing auto-feed as standard, and come with a new tail light design integrated into the infeed rim. To learn more about Bandit’s Intimidator hand-fed chippers please visit www.banditchippers.com

ClearSpan Presents New Extra Tall Building

Loadscan Introduces On-Line Access to Load Data

learSpan F a b r i c S t r u c t u r e ’s new Round SuperTall HD Building provides a structural solution for those in need of ex tra clearance. The new struc ture is an ideal option for applications where equipment and machinery needs to be operated within the structure. The Round Super-Tall HD Building comes in three sizes that can be customized to meet any building requirements. The 25-foot-8-inch tall building is 43 feet wide, the 30-foot-11-inch tall building is 52 feet wide and the 34 foot 2 inch tall building is 62 feet wide. Each size can be built as a freestanding structure or on pony walls. The structures can be engineered to withstand weather in any region or to meet local building codes. Round Super-Tall HD Buildings are built with durable, triple-galvanized steel. The frame is made in America, and it is covered by 12.5 oz., 24 mil rip-stop polyethylene fabric. The fabric covers are UV resistant and come in the customers’ choice of four colors. Custom covers, end walls and accessories are available.

oadscan’s new MyScanner online customer portal has been designed to bring optimum efficiency to operations where collecting accurate load data is key to their success. MyScanner is the next stage in Loadscan’s innovative l o a d m e a s u re m e nt technology and is a direct add on to their original Load Volume Scanner system which provides accurate volume measurements via a single, noncontact, drive through scan and means no more wading through paper dockets or arguing over supply quantities. MyScanner is an on-line, cloud based service that allows real time access to load data from your LVS system from anywhere in the world with the added benefits of being able to remotely control your LVS system, access software upgrades, integrate your load data directly to other accounting and business management software packages and access 24/7 support.

For more information visit www.ClearSpan.com

18 Soil & Mulch Producer News November / December 2016

For more information visit www.loadscan.com or phone 800-747-2973 or email sales@loadscan.com

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 19

BANDIT BUILDS YOUR BOTTOM LINE

Model 4680XP Track

CAPABLE OF PRODUCING UP TO 800 YARDS OF MULCH PER HOUR The Beast® Model 4680XP makes short work of large brush piles, chunk wood and storm damage debris. The patented cuttermill cuts and splits material as opposed to the hammering action found in other horizontal grinders, creating a high-quality primary-grind mulch that’s perfect for composting and regrinding. Configured for finish grinding, The Beast can turn waste wood directly into top-dollar mulch in a single pass. Available as towable or track units with engine options up to 1200 horsepower to quickly handle the largest projects, The Beast Model 4680XP is simply the ultimate horizontal grinder.

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20 Soil & Mulch Producer News November / December 2016

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Canadian Mulch Producer Will Open Warehouse in Maine

nity, ME – New Brunswick-based Envirem Organics Inc. has received approval from the small Maine town of Unity to open offices and a distribution warehouse, reports Waldo.VillageSoup.com. Envirem is a producer and seller of mulches, soils and soil amendments, which it supplies to landscape, horticulture, agriculture, retail and reclamation markets. The company sells products under the trade names Greenhouse Gold and Nutri-Wave, but a large part of its business has been bagging services for national and international labels sold through Walmart and other retailers. The Unity operation will be located on a 31.9-acre site the company purchased this year and will be designated as headquarters for Envirem Organics, LLC, the U.S. branch of the Canadian parent. Company president, Robert Kiely, said New Brunswick and Maine are similar with regard to changes and upheaval in the forest industry. The new US Envirem company eventually will capitalize on the trend toward organic farming and agriculture by processing waste wood, he explained in an interview with the Republican Journal. “Unity has a nice organic-based culture,” he said. “You have MOFGA, the university [Unity College], and you have a lot of organic growers now.” The site includes a 30,000-square-foot warehouse once used as a chicken hatchery. Kiely says the company has plans for a packaging facility in two years. At completion, the entire project will cost an estimated $4 million, he added. Envirem facilities are located throughout New Brunswick and in Nova Scotia, Canada, including three remediation operations, six composting operations, a bagging plant, an anaerobic digester, a granular organic fertilizer plant and a dehydration bio-products plant. According to the company’s website, the company manages and processes more than 500,000 tonnes of forestry and industrial residuals annually.

marisa@e-milagro.com

Wisconsin Legislators Earmark 40K Acres of State Forestland for Logging

adison, WI – Wisconsin legislators have authorized intensive logging of nearly 40,000 acres of state forestland, according to a DuluthNewsTribune.com article. By reclassifying selected woodlands as “forest production management areas,” the amount of acreage eligible for accelerated logging cycles increases from 66 percent to 75 percent. According to Wisconsin State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) figures, timber from all DNR-managed land in 2014 and 2015 accounted for more than $11 million in annual sales. Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker and the state legislators behind the policy change are hoping the new designations will stimulate the state economy. The forest products industry is responsible for some 64,000 jobs statewide. For years, the industry has been lobbying for more land to timber, according to the Duluth News Tribune article. The areas affected by the reclassification include: The Northern Highland American Legion and Brule River, Black River and Flambeau River state forests. DNR foresters, along with conservation and wildlife managers have discussed endangered species and other details such as old growth forests and natural areas. But that hasn’t quieted concerns – a number of critics say the bill doesn’t spell out enough detail. What’s more, Democrats on the state Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee are rankled by the partisan fashion in which the Republican-backed changes were inserted into the state budget in May of 2015.

www.heartland.org/subscribe

www.store.heartland.org

www.heartland.org

November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 21

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

IECA Names Jim Cantore and Craig Zeller Keynote Speakers for Environmental Connection 2017

enver, CO – The International Erosion Control Association Region One (IECA) announced its keynote speakers for Environmental Connection 2017 – IECA’s Annual Conference, the premier educational event for the erosion, sediment control and stormwater industry, taking place February 21-24, 2017 in Atlanta. Joining Environmental Connection 2017 as opening keynote speaker is Jim Cantore, world renowned meteorologist with the Weather Channel, and the first-ever closing keynote speaker is Craig Zeller, PE, Senior Regional Project Manager with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cantore, one of the most recognized faces in weather, will discuss changes in weather patterns, predictions for the future and how these changes will affect the erosion control industry. What can we do today to prepare for the weather changes over the next 50 years? Cantore will lend his insights on how the industry can prepare for the future in weather.

http://www.amadas.com

22 Soil & Mulch Producer News

November / December 2016

UK Timber Market Healthy Now, But Experts Predict a Shortage in 20 Years

ix thousand hectares of new woodland were created in the UK in 2015-16, according to the latest figures available from the government’s Forestry Commission. But that’s not enough to replace the commercial forests that are being logged, so forest creation is on the government’s “to do” list, reports FarmingUk.com. The UK Forest Market Report 2016 puts the UK’s total woodland area at 3.16 million hectares, which includes 1.35 million hectares (43 percent) that is independently certified as sustainably managed. For some time, policymakers have been made aware of the value of commercial forests, not just for timber production, but also their environmental impacts such as carbon sequestration, wildlife conservation and flood amelioration. The government, has not moved ahead with planting initiatives fast enough to prevent future shortages, however. A spokesperson for Tilhill Forestry, UK’s leading forestry management and timber harvesting and marketing company, says that the newer forests – those planted in the 1970s and 1980s – are providing good return on investment and the new forests being planted now will have a ready market. Meanwhile, the word from John Clegg & Co Chartered Surveyors and Chartered Foresters is encouraging forestry investors and landowners to take advantage of low interest rates for obtaining and putting more land into forestry. “Creating new forests is as important as restocking and more farmers are looking at releasing land to create outstanding forest resources for the future, potentially offering greater integration with farming,” a Clegg spokesperson said. The value of carefully managed commercial forests is impressive: Scotland’s forest industry, worth over £1bn annually, out-earns its fishing industry. Yet the Forestry Commission’s numbers for 2016 do hold some cause for concern. A total of £79.19 million of forest properties are traded, which is down from 2015’s record sales of £150 million. The figure was heavily influenced by the paper industry leader, UPM, whose portfolio sold for £50 million. Other year-end figures of interest: Wood products imported into the UK in 2015 were valued at £7.5 billion and included 6.3 million cubic meters of sawnwood, 3.2 million cubic meters of wood-based panels, 6.5 million tonnes of wood pellets and 5.9 million tonnes of paper. There were 10.8 million green tonnes of UK roundwood (softwood and hardwood) delivered to primary wood processors and others in 2015, representing a 6 percent decrease from the previous year.

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November / December 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 23

www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com

VOL. X NO. 6

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

Inside This Issue Industry Looks to the Sky With Drones PAGE 1 Pacific Northwest Timber Belt Hopeful Following Election PAGE 4 Sudden Oak Death Threatens West Coast Forests PAGE 5 New Tool for Drought Prediction PAGE 8 Study: EPA Regulations Impose Huge Burden on States PAGE 10 When Composting Becomes Popular PAGE 16 UK Timber Market Healthy Now, But Experts Predict a Shortage in 20 Years PAGE 22

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