Newspaper localizes Texas blast news with info from UCCE advisor

After the extraordinary explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas this week, people living in rural agricultural areas are looking around warily to see whether a similar facility might be in their own backyards. The Redding Appeal-Democrat asked Franz Niederholzer, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Sutter and Yuba counties, whether such danger lurks in their community.

Niederholzer said ammonium nitrate fertilizer was popular and prevalent until 1995.

"It was phased out after the bombing in Oklahoma City," he said. "I don't know anyone using or recommending it. Most growers in the area use urea."

Ammonium nitrate fertilizer was used in a bomb that exploding outside a federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.