Land-applying livestock manure in winter requires much greater attention to locations and weather. And with increasing variability during winter, weather even more so. The main concern comes from insufficient incorporation, and runoff from frozen and snow-covered soil. (See article: "Research shows winter application of manure is a bad idea," from the Conservation Technology Information Center).
For large livestock farms with state or federal operating permits, land application of liquid manure is prohibited after Nov. 30 on frozen or snow-covered soils, unless an emergency application is approved. However, unlike last winter's early freeze-up, some current measures at a 6-inch depth show soil temperatures at or even above freezing. When planning to land apply either solid or liquid manure, applicators should always check soil conditions and weather forecasts. The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture provides a webpage with links to soil temperature sites around the state.
Regardless of whether or not they have an operating permit, all livestock operations need to follow the Minnesota 7020 rules. During winter land application they must maintain a 300-foot setback from all sensitive features and use other best management practices to prevent manure from running off, and preserving its nutrient value for next year’s crop. For more information see the fact sheet, "Managing manure land application during adverse weather conditions." Wisconsin farmers have access to the Manure Management System AdvisorySystem map, which provides real-time weather information about runoff risk. The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture is working on a similar map.
Some common sense best management practices include:
- Manure is applied more than 300 feet from sensitive features including lakes, streams, open tile inlets, sinkholes, water supply wells, mines and quarries, intermittent streams, un-bermed drainage ditches, or public water wetlands;
- No active snowmelt is occurring that can create runoff from an application field. Active snowmelt is deemed to be occurring if there are two or more inches of snow on the field and maximum temperatures that exceed 40 degrees F. are occurring or are predicted to exceed 40 degrees F. within 24 hours of spreading manure;
- No rainfall over 0.25 inches is predicted by the National Weather Service with a probability greater than 50 percent within 24 hours of the end of the application period;
- Slopes should be less than or equal to six percent on the entire portion of the field where manure is land applied.
- Water or ice should not occupy tillage furrows to the extent that additional snowmelt or precipitation cannot be contained between furrows or in other depressional storage areas within the field.
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A report to the Minnesota Legislature on the delegated county feedlot program is available online via links to the Legislative Reports and Feedlot Program webpages, or directly to a copy of the report. In 2013 the Legislature requested this report from the MPCA.
The report summarizes the 2013 and 2014 work of the 53 Minnesota counties (currently 52) that are delegated to administer the state feedlot rule for facilities that do not require NPDES or SDS permits.
Delegated counties are a key component of the MPCA’s feedlot program. They provide local understanding and commitment to the regulatory components of the feedlot program and to obtaining technical and financial assistance for feedlot owners. Their responsibilities include registration, permitting, inspections, education and assistance, complaint follow-up and environmental improvement. In 2014 their work included:
- Registration: 18,526 feedlots registered.
- Permits: 156 construction and 65 interim permits issued.
- Inspections: 2,975 inspections performed.
- Producer education and assistance: 46 workshops attended by 1,221 producers.
- Feedlot environmental improvements: 214 practices were implemented (buffers, manure storage, relocation, etc.).
- Enforcement: 68 warning letters, 24 violation notices, and 5 court cases.
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Total state grant funding per year: $1,959,000.
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Annual
reports for livestock farms with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System or State Disposal System permits are due March 1, 2016. Forms are
available on the MPCA feedlot program website. Links to the form are located on
the feedlot program permits and forms webpage. Paper
copies of the form may be requested by contacting the MPCA regional offices. The office phone
numbers are listed on page 5. All land application records for the
12-month period starting Sept. 1, 2014, through Aug. 31, 2015, must be
submitted as part of the report and on the included forms. For farms that do
not transfer manure, land application records can also be generated and
submitted using the MPCA excel based Manure Management Planner under Create
Crop Year Records. A link to the planner is located on the feedlot program Nutrient and Manure Management webpage.
Annual reports provide valuable information for determining compliance with Minnesota’s
feedlot rules. Failure to submit annual reports by the March 1 deadline may
result in an enforcement action from the MPCA.
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A letter has been sent to feedlot owners and operators with permit coverage under the 2011-2016 general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/State Disposal
System (SDS) permit (number MNG44000) reminding them that their current permit
coverage will expire on Jan. 31.
Feedlots with 1,000 animal units or more must submit a permit
application for either the NPDES or the SDS Permit prior to that date. According to recent legislation, feedlots under 1,000 animal units may choose to either apply for continued permit coverage, or, if they have no discharge, may decline the permit. If the latter, a notice of permit termination is requested.
To ensure continued permit coverage and to avoid potential
enforcement for operating without a permit, owners that are required to
maintain permit coverage must submit a permit application for either the NPDES
or the SDS Permit by Jan. 31.
A single permit
application has been developed for use when applying for either the NPDES or the
SDS permit. The manure management plan, submitted as part of
the permit application for either the SDS or NPDES permit, must be done on a
form provided by the MPCA.
A fact sheet, titled “NPDES and SDS Permits for Feedlots,” is available to assist in determining the type of permit coverage preferred or required for a facility. Forms and
factsheet can be found on MPCA feedlot website at: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/quick-links/feedlot-program.
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The 10th edition of the MPCA feedlot program inspection records calendar is now available on the publication webpage (scroll to bottom of page). A limited number of printed copies will be available at Pork Congress and MPCA regional offices.
Use the daily check boxes to record regular inspections of water lines, weekly
basin inspections and depth mark readings, storm water and runoff controls, and
perimeter tile inspections monthly. The calendar notations would fulfill those
NPDES and SDS permit record-keeping requirements.
Feedlot web page updates under way
The MPCA is working on a redesign of its feedlot program webpages, and updating documents. The current organization of links and documents dates back to 2005. Some design changes have occurred recently with the agency's overall redesign of its webpages. The new feedlot webpage layout will use a tab format to improve access to the various sections. Comments and suggestions for the webpages are welcome and may be sent to Forrest Peterson, 320-441-6972, forrest.peterson@state.mn.us.
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The annual convention of Minnesota Elk Breeders Association was held Jan. 9 in Willmar. The USDA's Census of Agriculture shows that Minnesota leads the U.S. in farmed elk production and is home to 141 elk farms raising more than 4,200 elk. The association's new website, sponsored in part by the state's Minnesota Grown program, was created to highlight the shortage of elk products and the need for more elk producers.
The group's president, Mark Lucas, says the elk industry is enjoying unprecedented demand for elk meat, velvet antler for the health-supplement market and hard antler for the dog-chew market. He said demand for trophy bulls and breeding stock has risen considerably, as well. For more information about the Minnesota Elk Breeders Association, go to mneba.org. - AP, 10-11-14.
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Dakota County withdraws from delegated county feedlot program
The Dakota County board of commissioners voted to withdraw from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency delegated county feedlot program effective Dec. 31, 2015. The reason given was "increasing
demands without corresponding increases in state funding.” MPCA staff Mark Gernes
and Paul Brietzke are now covering feedlot program duties in Dakota County. Mark Gernes: 507-206-2643,
mark.p.gernes @state.mn.us; Paul Brietzke: 507-206-2616, paul.brietzke@state.mn.us. The county feedlot program is a cooperative arrangement between the MPCA and county government to administer Minnesota's feedlot rule. County feedlot programs are responsible for the implementation of feedlot rules and regulations in 52 (as of Jan. 1, 2016) Minnesota counties including most of the major feedlot counties.
MPCA permit forms available at Pork Congress
Feedlot
program staff will be participating in the trade show and seminars at Pork
Congress Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 19-20 at the Minneapolis Convention
Center. All are welcome to visit the MPCA booth (#328) at the convention trade
show. Application forms for NPDES and SDS permits will be available, along with annual report and permit termination forms. George Schwint of the
MPCA Willmar office will be a presenter during the manure applicator workshop Tuesday afternoon. Other MPCA feedlot program staff planning to attend include Steve Schmidt, Dana Leibfried, Desiree Hohenstein, and Forrest Peterson.
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Webcast: Construction and Maintenance of a Manure Pond
The first in a two-part series on manure pond liners, this segment
will cover the purpose of liners, testing procedures (soil permeability), and
installation/maintenance case studies. Presenters are Bill Reck and Steve
Reinsch, USDA NRCS and Joe Harrison, Washington State University. More...
Jan. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
More on Webcasts...
What's Going On In
the LPELC?
Expert Database. Are
you looking for someone who is an expert on a particular topic? Someone who is
in your geographical area? Check out the manure experts database, which can be
sorted by several criteria. There is also a spot where you can add your name to
the list! More...
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Column: Water quality summit should focus on collaboration AgWeek, 1/4/16 U.S. announces additional support for Iowa producers to improve nutrient management and water quality efforts USDA news release, 1/5/16
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Jan. 19-20, 2016: Pork Congress, Minneapolis Convention Center.
Jan. 27-28: Minnesota Ag Expo, Verizon Center, Mankato. Feb. 9: Nutrient Management Conference, Jackpot Junction, Morton.
March 16-17, 2016: Midwest Poultry Federation convention, St.
Paul RiverCentre.
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The
MPCA Feedlot Update welcomes news from partners about, projects, people, and
upcoming events. Email submissions to forrest.peterson@state.mn.us.
Past issues of Feedlot Update are available on the feedlot program publications webpage.
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