Feedlot Update March 14, 2012

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Feedlot Update


March 14, 2012

Feedlot factoid

County feedlot officers request reprints of ______________ publication?

Answer appears in one of the articles below, and following the Calendar

Training team lining up topics for county staff workshops

The MPCA feedlot program Training and Communications team is developing an outline of topics for county feedlot officer training. Sessions will be held at several regional locations in May. Topics include lab practices, permit processing, Delta database, legislative update, basic skills quiz, and the County Feedlot Officer Toolbox webpage. In the delegated county program, 55 counties provide staff to carry out feedlot regulation duties such as permitting, inspections, education, and enforcement, not including large feedlots with federal NPDES permits. County staff also work together through the Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers.
CFO training

Good turnout at county meetings for applicators

Several counties participated this winter in meetings for Commercial Animal Waste Technicians. Dan Vermilyea, Steele County, reports that a total of nearly 100 attended three meetings in the southeast, sponsored by feedlot staff from Dodge, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Rice and Steele counties. Topics included timing of manure application, nitrogen stabilizers for manure, application setbacks and record keeping, and closure and abandonment procedures. Andy Siira, Douglas County, reports that about 40 applicators attended a meeting Jan. 25 at Melrose. U of M Extension staff presented on drainage management and water quality, pit foaming, and on pumping manure safety.  Samantha Adams presented in a game show format (Who wants to be a millionaire)  and Grant Pearson, who is with NRCS, gave a presentation on nutrient management.

Delegated county program news

Counties earmark funds for publication reprints

The joint MPCA-county feedlot program management team has approved using $15,000 from the performance grant fund to pay for educational material and speakers through 2013. A survey of county feedlot staff last fall identified several publications that they would like to have re-printed. While available on the internet, they see a value in having as supply of pre-printed copies available at meetings and other events. The most popular publication was "Applying Manure in Sensitive Areas."  Also in line for re-printing are: Manure Application Rate Guide, Manure-Nutrient Management-Short Plan, and land application setbacks magnet. These and other publications are available on the MPCA feedlot program publications webpage.

Annual report forms to be distributed

The County Feedlot Officer annual report and performance credit report form for 2012 is scheduled to be distributed by April 1. The information fields on the form are same as they were for 2011. However, for the first time, most of the data needed to complete the form will be automatically generated by a Delta report called the CFO Delta Tally. Instructions on how to use the CFO Delta Tally report will  be sent at a future date. For more information, contact Don Hauge, 561-757-2855, don.hauge@state.mn.us.

MPCA staff news

Jessica Moore joins MPCA feedlot staff in Brainerd

Jessica Moore, of the MPCA Brainerd office, starts March 14 working in the feedlot program. Previously, she worked in the biological monitoring unit. Meanwhile, interviews are taking place for MPCA feedlot staff positions in Detroit Lakes and Mankato.

Steve Howey to leave MPCA feedlot program for Extension post

Starting in April, Steve Howey, of the MPCA Marshall feedlot staff for the past seven years, will be working as a Research Fellow at the U of M Research and Outreach Center in Crookston. The focus of this position will be wheat research, which he did in the 1980s around Fargo during the summers and in graduate school at NDSU.

Request for proposals - nutrient management research

Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc. (FPPC), a non-profit organization is expanding its nutrient management role to applications of fertilizers, amendments, and methods that will improve the nutrient-to-plant efficiency and lower losses of nutrients that impact water and air quality. The goal is to find and evaluate promising nutrient management methods, technologies, and soil amendments that will be applicable for both manure and chemical fertilizers when applied using the right source, the right rate, the right time and the right place. To be considered for potential funding, prepared white papers should be submitted, to the following address or by email to aimee.thomas@fppcinc.org no later than March 28, 2012.  

In the news

MFB news release, 3/6/12
WDNR news release, 2/21/12
Agri-News, 2/16/12

Calendar

March 14-15: Midwest Poultry Federation convention, St. Paul RiverCentre.
March 21: Minnesota River turbidity TMDL information meeting, 10 a.m., Redwood Falls Community Center.
March 29: Precision conservation conference, St. Anthony, Freshwater Society.
March 29: South Metro Mississippi River turbidity TMDL information meeting, St. James Hotel, Red Wing.
April 4: Gorans Discovery Farm update, 9 a.m., MinnWest Technology campus, Willmar.
April 20-22: Minnesota Buffalo Association 19th annual educational conference, Prairie's Edge Casino Resort, Granite Falls.
April 24-25: MPCA feedlot staff, Sauk Centre.

Factoid answer

Applying Manure in Sensitive Areas

Share your news

The MPCA Feedlot Update welcomes news submissions from partners about, projects, people, and upcoming events. Email submissions to forrest.peterson@state.mn.us. Please note that the MPCA has switched to a new service, called GovDelivery, to deliver the Feedlot Update. To ensure delivery of these messages, please add mpca@public.govdelivery.com to your address book or safe sender list.