beardsley & sons an independent family- run fertilizer company in oxnard. they fertilizer some 10,000 acres in ventura county. >> my dad started this company in 1935 with the only shell chemical anhydrous ade by ammonia nh3. >> reporter: he stopped using potential dangers of the gas exploding. >> anhydrous ammonia, which is a gas, has to be stored in a vessel, and i think that's what blew up over there. >> reporter: they also worried about the potential danger to their employees handling the gas. >> we're always pro-active about how we handle the business and keeping the community safe. >> reporter: they carry conventional dry, liquid and organic fertilizer. and they work closely with the local fire department should they ever need to respond to a fire at the site or any other type of emergency. >> they need to understand what we inventory, whether it's hazardous or not. >> reporter: they choose to avoid the hazardous materials and are glad they are not alone. >> there are no agricultural dealers in ventura county that use it. it's just not there. >> report