The 13th annual convention of the Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers is scheduled for Oct. 13-15 at the Alexandria Holiday Inn. The association represents livestock feedlot staff from 54 counties delegated to administer state feedlot rules. The convention is also open to staff from other counties who work with feedlots. It provides education and training sessions, networking, and on-site feedlot tours. Specific topics this year include: Open lot-low cost fixes, land application review, permits, manure management plan review, pastures, and permit variances. The MACFO annual meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Oct. 14. Photo: Greg DeVries, Sibley County, and Tracy Janikula, Wright County, measure a vegetated buffer during the 2013 convention tour in Stearns County.

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Studanski named MPCA feedlot program compliance coordinator

Rachel Studanski has been named the new MPCA feedlot program compliance coordinator. She brings to the position more than seven years of compliance and enforcement experience at the agency in both hazardous waste and air quality. She has been a Pollution Control Specialist Sr. for over four years. Recently, Rachael has assisted the Air Compliance Unit with mentoring new staff and making staff assignments to ensure that EPA inspection commitments are met. Rachel began in her new position Sept. 24, and will continue to work out of the Brainerd office. 

Yellow Medicine County P&Z names Chris Balfany administrator, and Jolene Johnson coordinator

Chris Balfany has been named Yellow Medicine County planning and zoning administrator, and Jolene Johnson has been named planning and zoning coordinator. Jolene previously worked on the feedlot program with Randy Jacobson, who retired in March.

Chris lives near Sacred Heart and graduated from Yellow Medicine East High School. He has a B.S. in agriculture systems technology, with an emphasis in agronomy and a minor in business from South Dakota State University. He joined the Yellow Medicine staff in May 2011 as the ditch inspector, and in April 2014 became the Yellow Medicine County planning and zoning administrator. His duties include drainage, septic systems, and feedlots. Previously he worked for Balfany Construction.  

Jolene started with Yellow Medicine County in 1988 as an administrative assistant in the zoning office. In 1994 she became water plan coordinator, and in April 2014 was named planning and zoning coordinator. Her duties include zoning, ag inspector, water planning and feedlots. A native of Lake City, Jolene lives on a farm near Clarkfield. She graduated with an A.A.S. in Agricultural Office Management from the University of Minnesota – Waseca. 

The website for the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program has some new material, including a short video with interviews of farmers participating in several pilot watersheds. The voluntary program relies on farmers and agricultural landowners taking the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our soil and water. Those who implement and maintain approved farm management practices will be certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of ten years. A new edition of the brochure and the summer 2014 newsletter can be found on the main page. There is also a link to the August issue of Prairie Grains magazine with an article by Dept. of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Matthew Wohlman.

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The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) and the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council (MCR&PC) have named Adam Birr, Ph.D., executive director of both organizations.

As executive director of MCGA, Birr will lead an organization that is more than 7,100 members strong and represents the interests of Minnesota’s 25,000 corn farmers. His leadership of MCR&PC will involve oversight of the efficient and effective administration of Minnesota’s corn check-off.

Birr has served as MCGA’s Research Director since March of 2013 and began as executive director on Oct. 1. More.

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Charlie Arnot of the Center for Food Integrity, speaking at the fourth annual Animal Science conference in Willmar, urged livestock producers to 'engage the public' in the message that agriculture cares about the humane treatment of animals. “Transparency today is no longer optional,” he said according to an article in the West Central Tribune. “When you operate in an environment where anybody who has a cell phone can be a cinematographer, you have to operate under the assumption that somebody is watching everything you do all the time.’’ A panel discussion on food and consumer trends included Arnot, CEO of the Center for Food Integrity in Gladstone, Missouri; Bob Lefebvre, senior vice president of industry relations for Midwest Dairy Association in St. Paul; and Joel Swedberg, vice president of legislative affairs for Hormel Food in Austin. Arnot is also scheduled to speak at the Agri-Growth Council annual meeting Nov. 6 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. More than 100 attended the Animal Science Conference at the MinnWest Technology Campus Oct. 1 in Willmar. The annual fall conference features speakers and panels covering the latest industry trends, encourages networking, and covers topics most relevant to animal science producers and industry partners. The 2015 conference date will be announced in the spring.

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The next Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center live webcast entitled "Linking feed Management to Whole Farm Nutrient management" and will be held on Oct.17 at 1:30 pm. The webcast will highlight a decision aid tool that follows the nutrients in feed all the way to the land application of manure for crop production. The tool is web based for ease of use and includes an economic component so that manure nutrients are valued. The design of the tool allows for quick comparison of different feeding strategies and the impacts they have on whole farm nutrient management. To participate, on the day of the webcast, go to www.extension.org/58813 to download the speaker’s power point presentations and connect to the virtual meeting room. First time viewers should also follow the steps at: www.extension.org/8924. More...

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