June 22, 2012

Feedlot Program Q&A

In locating sites for manure stockpiles, what is the minimum flow distance of the location to surface water?

Flurry of feedlot staff changes among counties, state

Recent county feedlot staff appointments

Mark Janson has joined the feedlot program staff in Rock County. He is a native of Brandon, SD, and graduated from Lake Area Technical Institute majoring in environmental technology. Previously, he worked at the Farmers Co-op Elevator in Montevideo.

Aimee Zimmermann started June 11 in the Wadena County SWCD office, filling the vacancy occurring when Molly Costin moved to the MPCA Detroit Lakes office. In addition to the feedlot program, Amy’s work includes the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) and noxious weed control. Previously, she worked for the Nature Conservancy on prairie restoration, operating from the Litchfield office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She grew up on a small family farm near Little Falls. In 2011 she graduated from St. Cloud State majoring in environmental science.

Mark Manderfeld replaces Sara Isebrand, who moved to the MPCA Mankato office. Previously, Mark worked for eight years in the Blue Earth County assessors office. In addition to feedlots, his new duties include code enforcement and building permits.  Brian Krippner started work April 16 in the Kittson County SWCD office. In addition to the feedlot program, his work includes WCA, co-county ag. inspector, shoreland, planting, and assisting NRCS with CRP management. He graduated in December 2011 from St. Cloud State majoring in environmental studies. Jennifer Kaminskie started work June 18 in the Stearns County feedlot program, filling the vacancy left by Allison Remer. Since 2006 she worked in the county environmental services office on SSTS projects and inventory. She is a native of Richmond, and graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a major in environmental studies and minor in biology.

Douglas County accepting applications until July 6

Legislature extends ban on open swine manure basins

MDA names water quality certification advisory committee

• Douglas Albin, farmer and Chairman of Yellow Medicine County Corn Growers
  
• Dennis Berglund, CEO and General Manager, Control Crop Consulting
  
• Nathan Collins, president, Swift County Farm Bureau and Murdock City Council Member
  
• Elizabeth Croteau-Kallstad, executive director, Cannon River Watershed Partnership
  
• Dean Fairchild, assistant vice president, Mosaic Company
  
• Dennis Fuchs, district administrator, Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District
  
• Kirby Hettver, farmer and member of Chippewa County Corn and Soybean Growers
  
• Jim Kleinschmit, Rural Communities Program director, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
  
• Bob Lefebvre, executive director, Minnesota Milk Producers Association
  
• Mike Myser, mayor of Prior Lake
  
• Doug Peterson, president, Minnesota Farmers Union
  
• James Riddle, supervisor, Winona County Soil and Water Conservation District
  
• Kris Sigford, water quality director, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
  
• James (Tony) Thompson, farmer and member of North Heron Lake Game Producers Association
  
• Bill Zurn, farmer and past president of Minnesota Soybean Growers 
  

Livestock grazing projects advance in grant process

• Controlling Terrestrial Invasive Plants with Grazing Animals, $52,000, Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. Connects livestock producers with landowners to develop a cost effective environmentally-friendly BMP to control invasive terrestrial species through planned grazing, and then transfer this knowledge to others in region.
  
• Conservation Grazing to Improve Wildlife Habitat on WMAs, $1,200,000, MN DNR. Disturbance invigorates grasslands and livestock grazing is one management tool. This project provides infrastructure to support conservation grazing on 10,000 acres of targeted WMAs in partnership with local livestock producers.  .
  
• Enhancing Environmental and Economic Benefits of Woodland Grazing, $380,000, U of M. Demonstrate/assess that managing woodlands used for grazing can provide environmental and economic benefits: improved water quality, reduced soil erosion, enhanced species diversity, and improved forage and livestock performance.

In the news

MPCA Public Notices

Calendar

In locating sites for manure stockpiles, what is the minimum flow distance of the location to surface water?

Answer: 300 feet of flow distance and at least 50 feet horizontal distance to surface water, sinkholes, rock outcroppings, open tile intakes, and any uncultivated wetlands not seeded to annual farm crops or crop rotations involving perennial grasses or forages.

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