Feedlot Update - January 2017

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a webpage.
Feedlot Update

January 2017

Twin Eagle Dairy number 300 in Water Quality Certification Program

twin eagle dairy lunemann

Twin Eagle Dairy operated by Pat and Jody Lunemann in Todd County is the 300th farm in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. The program has certified 306 farms representing virtually every kind of agricultural production from all across the state. The Lunemanns milk 800 cows and farm 1,500 acres of corn, alfalfa and grass to help feed their herd. Photo: Flanked by Tom Wilczek of MDA and Danielle Kuperus from Todd SWCD, Pat Lunemann holds the certification sign.

The MAWQCP is delivered by the Dept. of Agriculture in partnership with the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, the Dept. of Natural Resources, and Minnesota’s 89 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The 306 farms represent more than 175,000 acres of working lands. To date, these farms have generated 531 new best management practices that are keeping 14.7 million pounds of soil on Minnesota fields annually, and keeping 9.7 million pounds of sediment and 6,086 pounds of phosphoros from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams annually. MDA news release.

Back to top


2017 feedlot inspection record calendar available online

2017 feedlot calendar

The 2017 edition of the MPCA feedlot inspection record-keeping calendar is available on the feedlot program home page and publications webpageYou 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.

Back to top


NPDES, SDS permit annual reports due March 1

Feedlots with NPDES or SDS operating permits turn in their annual reports by March 1, 2017. The form is available on the MPCA feedlot webpage. We encourage everyone filing to download the document (wq-f3-22b), fill out the Word version, and e-mail the completed report as a PDF document. Cover letters that accompany permits include the e-mail address of your MPCA staff contact, or call your MPCA regional office for the e-mail address to use. Paper copies of the form may be requested by contacting the MPCA regional offices.

All land application records for the 12-month period starting Sept. 1, 2015, through Aug. 31, 2016, 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.

Back to top


MPCA feedlot staff attend 2017 Pork Congress

2017 pork congress

MPCA feedlot program staff participated in the trade show and seminars at Pork Congress Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 17-18 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The exhibit provided a variety of informational handouts and forms, including the annual report and 2017 inspection record-keeping calendar. Factsheets and forms are available on the feedlot program web page. George Schwint of the MPCA Willmar office was a presenter during the manure applicator workshop Tuesday afternoon. Other MPCA feedlot program staff planning to attend included Dana Leibfried, Desiree Hohenstein, Will Martens, and Forrest Peterson. Photo: George Schwint, right, and Will Martens talk with a visitor at the MPCA exhibit.

Back to top


Loans, grants available for farm improvment, expansion

ag loan cover

The Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds farmers that there are many types of grants and low interest loans available for farm improvements or expansions. Details and information on how to apply are found on the Financial Assistance Program webpage. A variety of loans and grants are listed in the financial assistance booklet:

Grants:

  • Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Financial Assistance
  • Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration.
  • Livestock Investment
  • Dairy Business Planning

Low interest Loans: 

  • Ag Improvement
  • Ag Best Management Practice
  • Methane Digester

MDA Value Added Grant applications open through March 6

The MDA is accepting applications for Value Added Grants through March 6. A total of $1 million is available for equipment purchases or physical improvements through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program. In previous Value Added AGRI Grant rounds, a variety of businesses have received funding, including meat processors, creameries, wineries, processing facilities, farm co-ops, and food and feed manufacturers. Go online for more information about the Value Added Grant Program and to apply, or contact  Ann Kuzj at 651-201-6028 or ann.kuzj@state.mn.us.

Back to top


U of M schedules cow/calf days in January-February

cow calf days

The University of Minnesota Beef Team will host the annual Cow/Calf Days seminar tour and trade show at 10 locations across the state in January and February. 

The 2017 event will feature information on managing scours in calves, results of a U of M study on the impact of different hay rake designs, grazing management, and results of a U of M study on the impact of hay feeder design on hay waste. Updates from the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association will also highlight the event.

The program is directed at cow/calf producers, allied industry representatives, and is open to the public. A meal will be served with the program and a registration fee of $10 per person (register and pay at the door) will include the meal, proceedings book and program materials.

Each session is approximately three hours. More information can be found at www.extension.umn.edu/beef or by contacting Eric Mousel at (218) 398-1916 or emmousel@umn.edu.

Southern Tour

  • Jan. 23 - Mora, 5:30 p.m. at Kanabec County Jail, 18 N. Vine St.
  • Jan. 24 - Starbuck, 9:30 a.m. at Jim Wulf's Sale Facility, 30819 250th St.
  • Jan. 25 - Pipestone, 9:30 a.m. at MN West CC, 1314 N. Hiawatha Ave.
  • Jan. 26 - Oronoco, 5:30 p.m. at Tony Rossman Farms, 7000 70th St. NW
  • Jan. 27 - LeCenter, 9:30 a.m. at LeSeuer Co. Fairgrounds, 320 S. Plut Ave.

Northern Tour

  • Feb. 7 - Staples, 9:30 a.m. at Central Lakes CC, 1830 Airport Rd.
  • Feb. 7 - Bagley, 5:30 p.m. at American Legion, 288 Main Ave. N.
  • Feb. 8 - Lancaster, 5:30 p.m. at Community Center
  • Feb. 9 - Roseau, 5:30 p.m. at Gene's Bar & Grill, 1095 3rd St. NW
  • Feb. 10 - Iron, 5:30 p.m. at Clinton Community Center, 8907 MN-37

Back to top


Water summit Jan. 27 at U of M-Morris

year of water action logo

Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith will host a Town Hall Water Summit Friday, Jan. 27 on the campus of the University of Minnesota, Morris. The summit will bring together local government leaders, farmers, students, environmental groups, and businesses, to focus on water challenges and solutions in greater Minnesota.

The summit is the second large public forum during Gov. Dayton’s Year of Water Action, following the governor’s Water Summit last year. The governor’s office and the University of Minnesota, Morris will host a live YouTube stream of the summit. A link to that stream will be made available on the day of the event. Satellite viewing locations of the summit will be available at University of Minnesota campuses across the state. Registration is full; however, satellite viewing sites are located on the University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth, Crookston, and St. Paul. Individuals planning to participate through a satellite location should register here: http://z.umn.edu/umnsatellitewatersummit.

Key findings from the 2016 Water Summit

In February 2016, Gov. Dayton convened the first ever Water Summit to bring attention to the challenges Minnesota faces to protect and improve water quality across the state. More than 1,000 Minnesotans participated in the event – the first of its kind in the nation. Read key findings from Gov. Dayton’s 2016 Water Summit here.

For more information about Gov. Dayton’s Year of Water Action and what individuals, businesses and communities can do to improve the quality of Minnesota’s most precious resource, visit mn.gov/governor/wateraction. 

Back to top


News briefs

County feedlot staff changes

Rachel Elshaug has left East Polk SWCD for another job. Until the vacancy is filled, calls in Polk County can go to Nicole Bernd, West Polk SWCD, 218-281-6071, nicole.bernd@mn.nacdnet.net. Applications for the East Polk vacancy, and can be sent to 240 Cleveland Ave. SW, PO Box 57, McIntosh, MN, 56556, or e-mail to newtoneastpolk@gmail.com. 

Chad Knutson, formerly with Dodge County, has taken a new position with Rochester-Olmsted County Planning and Zoning, as a well and septic system inspector. 

2017 MACFO conference April 11-13 in Moorhead

The 2017 annual convention of the Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers is scheduled for April 11-13 at the Courtyard Marriot in Moorhead. From now on the convention will be held in spring instead of the fall as it has in the past. MACFO represents the 52 counties delegated to administer the 7020 feedlot rule except for farms with state and federal operating permits for farms with more than 1,000 animal units.

U of M Extension launches new soil management and health website

Balancing the economic and environmental benefits of soil management strategies can be a challenge. U of M Extension Crops team has launched a website that offers research-based resources to help producers improve soil and crop productivity, while minimizing environmental risks. The website, Soil management and health, features articles and videos in three primary sections:

  • Soil properties – includes descriptions of Minnesota soils and how they are formed, the importance of soil structure and the roles of organic matter and soil biology in building structure.
  • Tillage and soil management – includes resources for reducing soil compaction and erosion, managing crop residue, and evaluating tillage systems.
  • Cover crops – includes discussions on the benefits of cover crops and resources for selecting, establishing and maintaining them.
  • Soil fertility - provides a direct link to the U of M Extension Nutrient management website, which houses current crop fertilizer suggestions and data from the University of Minnesota.

The website also includes presentations, an A to Z library to find topics more easily, and links to other University soil websites.

Back to top


Retirement open house Feb. 8 for Wayne Anderson

wayne anderson

A retirement open house is scheduled Wednesday, Feb. 8 for long-time MPCA staff member, Wayne Anderson. It will be from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the public lobby of the DNR headquarters on Lafayette Road in St. Paul. Anderson began his career at the MPCA in 1973 as one of only two people working on the early stages of the feedlot program. He helped launch the 'county feedlot program', in which 51 counties today partner with the state to provide service at the county level. Back then, feedlots received a 'certificate of compliance' if their operations met requirements for protecting water quality, many of which bore his signature. In the 1980s as the MPCA began moving beyond industrial pollution issues, Anderson helped with the development of a non-point source pollution program. Starting in the 1990s he worked on Minnesota River issues and the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia task force. For about eight years he was designated the MPCA's ag liaison. More recently, he helped with the statewide Nutrient Reduction Strategy, related to the hypoxia task force. Upon his retirement Feb. 1, Wayne plans to stay active in support for the University of Minnesota through the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering and professional organizations such as the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Back to top


Extension offers manure and soil health webcasts

LPE News logo

The Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center has partnered with the Manure and Soil Health team to present four webcast roundtables to improve our understanding of: current knowledge, critical and emerging issues for which there are knowledge gaps, and information needs of farmers and their advisors.

Farmers and ranchers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of soil quality/health to the productivity and sustainability of their agricultural system. Research and field observations have demonstrated that carefully managed manure applications can contribute to improved soil quality with limited environmental and social risks. However, a comprehensive assemblage of outputs and conclusions from research studies, field trials, soil labs databases, and other sources has never been developed. Come help advance our understanding of the state of the science at the  More about the roundtables…  Register here. 

Manure and Soil Health Roundtables, all at 11 a.m.:

  • Manure and Soil Heath Testing – Feb. 9
  • Manure and Soil Biology – Feb. 16
  • Manure and Soil Erosion, Runoff, and Losses – Feb. 23
  • Manure and Cover Crops – March 9

How do I participate?

  • Any time between now and the webcast, go to http://go.unl.edu/mash_roundtables and register for the webinar. After completing the registration, you will be directed to a page with the webinar URL and option to save to your calendar.
  • First-time zoom webinar/meeting viewers can visit the following page to test access to the webcast system. http://www.extension.org/8924

Back to top


Cover crops turn up (turnip?) cow condition

cows cover crops

High Plains Journal, Jan. 9 - Cover crops are known for improving organic matter in soils, but growers in Nebraska have found a way to improve soils and cow condition scores at the same time. In October 2016, cows at Quirk Land and Cattle in Red Cloud, Nebraska, were turned into crop ground planted with a cover crop mix of turnips, Ethiopian cabbage and radishes. This mixture was spread onto the ground as the male corn rows were removed from the seed corn fields. After an adjustment period for the cows' stomachs, they begin to gain condition on the fields. Photo: High Plains Journal, Dodge City, KS.  READ MORE

Back to top


In the news

'I like challenges' - Wagner feedlot expansion
Alexandria Echo-Press, 12/28/16
Ag recycling dumpsters arrive in Glenwood
Alexandria Echo-Press, 1/10/17
Hog farm proposal draws a crowd in St. Charles
Rochester Post-Bulletin, 1/13/17

Back to top


Calendar

Jan. 25-26: Ag Expo, Verizon Wireless Center, Mankato.
Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2017: International Poultry Production and Processing Expo, Atlanta, GA.
Feb. 2: Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association winter meeting, Hutchinson.
Feb. 7: Nutrient Management Conference, River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud.
Feb. 16: Nitrogen conference, Verizon Wireless Center, Mankato
Feb. 22-23: Midwest Manure Summit, Green Bay, WI.
March 13-14: North Central Avian Disease Conference, St. Paul RiverCentre.
March 14-16: Midwest Poultry Federation convention, St. Paul RiverCentre.
April 11-13: MACFO conference, Moorhead.

Back to top


Send the news

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.