Pubdate: Tue, 01 Apr 2003 Source: Columbia Missourian (MO) Copyright: 2003 Columbia Missourian Contact: http://www.digmo.org/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2282 Author: Julie Harpring Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) FARMERS GUARD FERTILIZER AGAINST INCREASING THEFT Anhydrous Ammonia Can Be Used To Grow Crops Or Manufacture Methamphetamines. As farmers prepare their fields for planting this month, officials say they should keep a watchful eye on their fertilizer. Farmers and supply distributors are experiencing rampant theft of anhydrous ammonia, a substance normally used as a nitrogen fertilizer, according to a press release from MU's Extension Office. Anhydrous ammonia is the only key ingredient in illegal methamphetamines that can't be bought in grocery stores. The rise in theft reflects Missouri's status as the country's meth leader in meth raids and seizures for the second year in a row, according to the release. Local Farmers Burglarized Gary Riedel, a farmer in Boone and Audrain counties, said that a few years ago, his anhydrous ammonia was stolen from a tank sitting about a quarter of a mile from his home. Now he takes extra precautions to make sure he doesn't lose the fertilizer again. "I don't leave the anhydrous wagon sitting out near the road anymore, even if it's empty, because there's always a little left inside," he said. "It's an added nuisance having to shuttle the things back to the house every night." Law enforcement also notices the increased theft of the fertilizer. "It's getting worse every day," said Sgt. Tom Reddin, detective unit supervisor at the Boone Country Sheriff's Department. He said that while anhydrous ammonia theft occurs most frequently in the southwest part of the state, the problem has been expanding in all rural areas in Missouri, including Boone County. In order to keep injuries to farmers' wallets to a minimum, law enforcement officials and hazardous materials experts recommend close monitoring of anhydrous ammonia tanks. Leaving a tank in the fields overnight gives thieves the best opportunity to steal the substance unnoticed. A Very Dangerous Risk "The nature of anhydrous ammonia makes it dangerous to handle on a good day," said Robb Pilkington, hazardous material program manager for MU's Fire and Rescue Training Institute. When stored with the proper tanks and valves, the hazard can be kept to a minimum. However, Reddin said that misuse by people looking to steal the substance and get it quickly back to a meth lab can put the thieves and others in danger. "If the seal has been compromised, there's an explosion threat as well as a health risk," Reddin said. Thieves commonly tamper with storage tank valves and then attach a hose to them, forcing the subzero liquid ammonia into unsafe containers ranging from fire extinguishers to picnic coolers. As the substance expands inside, the pressure can cause the container to burst. In addition, a leaky valve or holder with the wrong pressure capacity may cause a white, smoky cloud to be released, blinding or causing burns to anyone nearby, including farmers, public safety officials and thieves, said Jim Gesling, manager of the Missouri Farmers Association in Centralia. "We've seen some thieves get injured," Gesling said. "They had put the ammonia in Tupperware containers. The Tupperware started to swell and when the gas expanded, they were injured pretty badly." Farmers not the only victims Like most distributors of anhydrous ammonia, the Centralia MFA has experienced theft of the fertilizer. "It's an ongoing problem for anyone who sells it," Gesling said. "I would say that every one of the agriservices who carries anhydrous ammonia has had problems with theft." His customers, farmers from around the county, are dealing with the possibility of theft as best they can, he said. He estimated that about 90 percent of them use anhydrous ammonia because of its effectiveness as a source of nitrogen for crops. "They're aggravated like everybody else," Gesling said. "About this time of year, they're getting started ordering anhydrous ammonia and putting it out on the fields. They're all trying to make an effort to park tanks under light or in the back of their property where no one can see or get to it." Related links * (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/methamphetamine.html) NIDA Meth Fact Sheet * (http://digmo.com:8080/NewsEngin/NewsArchive.nsf/e6a267146f3233838625670 b006795dd/86256b18007a899886256cf0005c589d?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,meth Digmo: MO Meth Stats. * (http://www.agrium.com/products_services/ingredients_for_growth/nitrogen /anhydrous_ammonia.cfm) Anhydrous ammonia facts * (http://www.chemsafety.gov/lib/csalert.pdf) Gov: Preventing AA Theft - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom