From time to time, customers of MFA or residents of towns where MFA does business ask what we as a company are doing to ensure the safety of people who live near our Agri Services Centers. Specifically, they refer to anhydrous ammonia and MFA's response to the unauthorized release of this agricultural product. The entire subject is driven by the actions of criminals who persist in vandalizing and tampering with anhydrous tanks nationwide and end up releasing a large amount of the product. It's a problem for communities and for agriculture. And, it's one that's hard to address to everyone's satisfaction. Still, I can honestly say we at MFA are doing everything reasonably possible to deal with these situations. Let me outline a few of the multiple precautions we take.

Several years ago, to comply with a federal regulation administered by the EPA, we led the industry in our trade territory in implementing risk management plans for each MFA location. That particular regulation requires businesses storing select products to develop, implement and announce plans for dealing with catastrophes. Anhydrous ammonia is one of the affected products. This specific regulation does not cover crop protection products. Those require yet another book full of other regulations concerning secondary-containment procedures. Nor do these regulations cover grain elevators or feed mills. Those require yet another system of regulations.

In terms of the EPA regulations on risk management, we at MFA have met or exceeded the stated requirements. We have active risk-management plans in effect for every community in which we have a location with anhydrous. Each plan is constructed around a worst-case scenario: a catastrophic release of anhydrous after the complete and total failure of the largest storage tank on site.

To deal with regulations and responsibilities like this, about 10 years ago we formed the Safety, Environmental and Regulatory (SER) department at MFA. These highly trained individuals assist in developing specific plans and help managers and employees at our Agri Services Centers design, implement, adhere to and enforce our own requirements as well as the requirements and regulations issuing from city, county, state and federal entities. Our SER employees also coordinate efforts with the local emergency departments and planning agencies to determine the emergency response required. Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, copies of these plans were posted for public viewing. As you might imagine, by Sept. 13, 2001, those plans were removed for obvious reasons.

Do we spend enough on safety, environmental and regulatory programs each year? What's enough? MFA spends substantially more than half a million dollars every year just monitoring safety, environmental and regulatory compliance. That doesn't count equipment purchases. We lead industry efforts in our trade territory. We could spend millions more and not be one bit safer. Many safety devices that are advertised as state of the art are defeated by thieves in the course of one evening.

At one facility where a vandal involved in meth production caused a release, we had a locking mechanism in place on the tank valve. He forced a way around the precaution. How safe is safe? In places where we fenced tanks, vandals cut fences. In places where we installed video cameras, thieves cut lines or wore masks. Worse still, thieves don't always come from the area where they steal so they're not easily identified even if photographed. We've had thieves from as far away as Wyoming steal anhydrous in central Missouri. Thieves from southern Missouri steal from tanks in northwest Missouri.

As I wrote in this column just this past spring, our store managers and employees monitor our tanks and facilities daily. We constantly look for ways to stop anhydrous theft. We provide lighting and surveillance systems when necessary. On a random basis, we have video surveillance monitoring at different locations. We share all information and video with law enforcement. Again, as I wrote this past spring, too many times, even all that is not enough. The thieves are too bold, too stupid or too cunning.

The unfortunate result is an anhydrous release in a community. That's unacceptable. At MFA, we go to great lengths to be good neighbors. We remove hoses and store them separately from tanks. We counsel our customers on how to store tanks on their property and ask that they return tanks and equipment to our facilities as soon as practical. We take the precautions listed above and cooperate with law enforcement in numerous ways to make anhydrous theft as difficult as possible.

Agriculture cannot afford to lose the commercial use of anhydrous ammonia. Businesses like MFA Incorporated cannot continue to fight against ammonia releases caused by the idiots who steal anhydrous for use in methamphetamine production. As an industry, we must find a way to solve the problem before the situation spirals out of control. It's dangerously close to doing that right now.

As you might imagine, many groups want to ban use of anhydrous. I sit on an industry board with an individual who firmly believes agriculture will be forced to discontinue use of anhydrous in the near future. I hope he's wrong. Still, I know he's representative of a segment of society. As such, we need everyone's help in preventing anhydrous theft. The future use of anhydrous depends on it. So does the safety of our rural communities.