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 main page, and permits and forms webpage, or download the document. 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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MPCA feedlot program staff are busy processing permit renewal
applications for the 2016-2021 NPDES general permit, or applications for the
new 2015-2025 State Disposal System general permit. Although, of the
approximately 1,300 CAFOs and feedlots with 1,000 animal units or more with
current NPDES permit coverage, only 45% have submitted applications thus far.
Applications were due to be submitted Sept. 15, 2015, or as soon as
possible thereafter. Permit holders that fail to submit a complete and
approvable application for either an NPDES or SDS permit by the expiration of
their current permit coverage, Jan. 31, 2016, will be without permit
coverage starting Feb. 1, 2016, and in violation of Minnesota’s feedlot
rules. Livestock farms no longer required to have either operating
permit can notify the MPCA that they will not be submitting a permit
application. A permit
termination request form can be used to make this notification. Submitting
a permit termination request form before the end of 2015 may avoid the annual
fee for 2016. For more information, contact your MPCA regional feedlot staff.
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The 2016 edition of the feedlot inspection record-keeping calendar soon will be available on the feedlot program main webpage and publications webpage. You can download the calendar and post it in the office, and 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. A limited number of printed copies will be available at the MPCA booth at Pork Congress.
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Brad Mergens and Darren Newville received the Outstanding District Employee award at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts annual convention Dec. 7. As managers of the West Otter Tail SWCD and East Otter Tail-Wadena SWCD, respectively, Brad and Darren have been working to seek feedlot program delegation for Otter Tail County. One of the largest counties in the state, Otter Tail lists more than 600 registered feedlots.
West Otter Tail also received the Conservation District of the Year award. Among its accomplishments, West Otter Tail reached out to their neighboring district, East Otter Tail SWCD, and their county to develop a three phase, nine-year plan to move toward 100 percent voluntary compliance with the existing shoreland buffer ordinance. The county supported the SWCDs financially to inventory, map and provide technical assistance to landowners who may be out of compliance. Photo: Darren Newville and Brad Mergens.
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Minnesota
livestock producers now have access to strategies for coping with excess
phosphorus. University of Minnesota Extension announced the availability of
case studies from Minnesota farms that describe strategies for reducing excess
phosphorus on land-limited dairy and beef operations.
When phosphorus imports
in feed, fertilizer, and other sources exceed exports in milk, livestock,
grain, manure, and other products, then soil test phosphorus can gradually rise
to excessively high levels. The result can be increased phosphorus in field
runoff to lakes, streams, and rivers stimulating growth of algae. The case
studies provide examples of cost-effective strategies to reduce phosphorus
imports or increase exports. Six case studies, each highlighting one strategy,
are available at: http://z.umn.edu/manure.
Manure
Application/Phosphorus Management on Livestock Farms
The case
studies have been presented at workshops for livestock producers and
agricultural professionals and highlighted in articles in the Dairy Star. More
case studies will added in early 2016.
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Peter Ripka from Ogilvie
was recently appointed by Governor Dayton to the Minnesota Board of Animal
Health. Ripka co-owns a 200-cow dairy operation and raises nearly 700 acres of
wheat, beans, corn and alfalfa. We welcome Mr. Ripka to the board and
appreciate the experience he brings to the table.
Peter Ripka grew up on the
dairy farm that he and his family now own and operate. Ripka Dairy, a joint
venture between Peter and his wife Stacy, opened in 1997. His children (one son
and three daughters) also help with the day-to-day chores that take place on
the farm.
Peter Ripka replaces
Steve Brake as one of the three livestock producers on the board. Steve served
three terms totaling 12 years.
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The Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory in Willmar will be undergoing an $8.5 million expansion and renovation. A ground-breaking ceremony for the lab expansion will be held Monday, Dec. 21, 2:30-4 p.m. at the adjacent Willmar Community and Activity Center.
Operated by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the 20-year-old lab runs tests on garden variety poultry diseases but it has never been equipped to test for the highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza. When the 8,235-square-foot addition is completed next fall, the lab will be able to process samples for H5N2, as well as other poultry diseases. - Reported in the West Central Tribune, Willmar, 12/15/15.
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The U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a
final environmental impact statement (EIS) for carcass management alternatives
that could be implemented during an animal health emergency. The EIS finds that
carcasses resulting from an animal health emergency can be disposed of safely
using a variety of available methods. The EIS is not specific to any one
animal disease. The findings of the EIS will be used to support animal health
emergency planning and decision-making.
The final EIS is available
at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/stakeholders/downloads/2015/eis_carcass_management.pdf (252 pages).
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) will publish a notice of availability in the Federal
Register on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. APHIS will consider all comments
received on or before Jan 17, 2016 in the Record of Decision.
Comments regarding the EIS may be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0044 or sent to: USDA APHIS Policy and
Program Development, Environmental and Risk Analysis Services, 4700 River Road, Unit 149, Riverdale, MD, 20737.
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Fields to Streams: Managing Water in Rural Landscapes, is a new publication from Extension Water Resources, that details connections between land use, runoff, and water quality in rural landscapes. The two-part handbook highlights practices to improve and protect rural streams and shows how land management can affect the rate of runoff that shapes them.
The handbook was prepared for landowners, land managers, and the conservation professionals who work with them to help them talk about and address local watershed issues. Fields to Streams draws on research from Minnesota and Iowa, providing concise explanations and extensive graphics to highlight concepts and practices.
Part One, Water Shaping the Landscape, explains the role of Minnesota's geology, changing rainfall, and land management practices in altering the amount and timing of runoff reaching and shaping streams and rivers.
Part Two, Managing Sediment and Water, describes practices for managing crops, drainage systems, surface runoff, wetlands, impoundments, and stream corridors to reduce peak flows and lessen the amount of streambank, bluff, and ravine erosion.
http://www.extension.umn.edu/environment/water/fields-to-streams/
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The Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced that it has lifted the last of the quarantines that were placed on each
of the 108 farms infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) this
year. All sites have completed cleaning and disinfection of their facilities
and have received negative influenza test results from environmental samples
taken in and around the infected barns.
Ninety percent of previously-infected sites were cleared to restock as of Oct. 6. The few sites
that remained have also completed the steps required to gain clearance for
restocking their barns with poultry. Restocked poultry on all the affected
farms have tested negative, which provides additional assurances that the HPAI
virus has been eradicated from Minnesota. For additional information on
Minnesota’s response and recovery from HPAI, visit www.mnairesponse.info. - Board of Animal Health news release.
Dodge County Board approves feedlot permit Rochester Post-Bulletin, 12/11/15 Fine-tuning for feedlots: New Nobles County ordinance moves closer to reality Worthington Globe, 12/11/15
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Dec. 18-19: Minnesota Angus Association annual banquet and sale, Hutchinson. Jan. 8-9: Organic conference, River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud. Jan. 19-20, 2016: Pork Congress, Minneapolis Convention Center.
Jan. 27-28: Minnesota Ag Expo, Verizon Center, Mankato.
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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