August 17, 2004

Farmers can help win the war against 'meth' producers

One of the big concerns in rural communities is the illegal production and use of methamphetamine or "meth." Meth is a highly addictive drug that has become a big problem in many areas of the country. Much of the meth in the Midwest is brought in from Mexico and the southwestern United States. But, a significant amount is produced locally in "meth labs." These labs are located in isolated or abandoned farm buildings, homes, cabins, or even in vehicles such as vans, trailers, or old campers.

There is a connection between meth labs and agriculture. One of the popular methods for producing the drug involves using anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer used to grow corn and other crops. Anhydrous ammonia is stolen out of tanks in fields or on farm sites. The other link between farms and meth labs is that people who operate these labs prefer isolated areas where they are less likely to be detected. Because of the preference for producing methamphetamine in rural areas, these same communities are also the ones disproportionately affected by addiction and the costs and problems associated with drug use and crime.

Farmers have many partners in the fight against methamphetamine. These partners include law enforcement, health professionals, educators, local and state officials, and others with a vested interest. However, the farmer's role and responsibility is an important key! Here are several suggestions that can help you prevent the theft of anhydrous ammonia on your property, and help your community win the war against methamphetamine producers.

• When practical, do not leave anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks sitting around in fields or on your farmstead. Plan ahead so that tanks are delivered to the field right before they are needed, and arrange for empty tanks to be picked up before you leave the field or before it gets dark.

• Realize that lab operators need very little ammonia to make their product. Ammonia is often transferred from a nurse tank into a portable LP gas container such as those used for gas grills. Thieves use a configuration of homemade hoses and couplers. Even a nurse tank that you consider to be empty probably still has enough residual ammonia left in it to be of value to a thief. As a farmer, you may only be paying a few cents per pound for ammonia, but on the black market, anhydrous might be worth $100 to $1000 per gallon!

• If you must take possession of a nurse tank overnight, think carefully about the best place for the tank. The best suggestion is to ask your fertilizer dealer about the best storage location, or consult with your local police department or county sheriff. Both are partners in prevention of anhydrous theft.

• Be alert for signs of tampering. Important indicators include strange footprints or partially opened tank valves. Or, you might find items left behind after theft such as buckets, coolers, duct tape, hoses, clamps, and bicycle inner tubes. If you notice any of these, do not approach the tank, and contact local law enforcement officials immediately.

• Monitor all areas of your property including remote and abandoned buildings and vehicles. Help keep an alert eye on the property of elderly neighbors or those who might own nearby property but live elsewhere. Look for blacked-out windows (to obstruct observation); large amounts of trash, such as empty packages of over-the-counter cold medications; signs of unusual foot or vehicle traffic; or, strong chemical smells. If you notice any of these, contact law enforcement and describe your observations.

• Never enter any area where you suspect that a meth lab may be located (currently or in the past). The residue is highly toxic and even walking through a contaminated area can be harmful. It is also important to law enforcement personnel that you not disturb evidence until a proper investigation has occurred.

• Property owners must be aware of the financial consequences if a meth lab is discovered on their property. By law, local authorities will take immediate action to shut down illegal facilities and secure contaminated property to protect the health of the public. It is the property owner's financial responsibility to arrange for and pay all costs associated with cleanup. The cost of cleanup and remediation can easily exceed $10,000. If the lab was in the back of a station wagon or van parked on a farm lane, the property owner will still be expected to pay for trash clean-up, disposal, and environmental testing if required. Again, the costs can run into thousands of dollars.

More detailed information is available at http://www.bae.umn.edu/ennotes

(Adapted from an article in the "Minnesota-Wisconsin Engineering Notes." John Shutske is a an agricultural safety and health specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service)

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URL: http:// www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2004/meth.html  This page was updated Feb. 15, 2005 .
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