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The Feedlot program factoid is a new feature to appear on occasion in the Feedlot Update newsletter.

The answer appears in one of the articles below, and following the Calendar.

The Feedlot Program has completed a big milestone in the transition of County Feedlot Officers to the state database, as six of the seven statewide trainings on the Inspection Module have been completed. Counties administering the state delegated feedlot program now have the advantage of entering feedlot registration information and feedlot inspection results into the state database. This is the second round of face-to-face trainings on the MPCA's DELTA database in just under a year - which aim to inform and to standardize data entry across the program. The recent trainings covered the use of a standardized inspection checklist, data entry points and exporting reports. After Jan. 1, 2012, all 55 delegated counties and 83 users, will be updating the database with feedlot location information and inspection data, all of which is linked to the MPCA’s What’s In My Neighborhood website.

The final training on the Inspection Module for County Feedlot Officers will be held at the MPCA St. Paul office on Dec. 14, followed by a DELTA refresher via WebEx on Jan. 25.  Please watch for emails with additional information regarding WebEx meetings.

The Feedlot Program Training and Communication Team will be hosting bimonthly WebEx meetings for County Feedlot Officers in 2012. The meetings will last approximately one hour on topics suggested by county and MPCA staff in the feedlot program. Discussion topics must be submitted to Courtney.ahlers@state.mn.us at least one week prior to the meeting and must be related to the feedlot program. Guest speakers and outside parties may be invited depending on the suggested topics. More information will be released via email to CFOs and at the Jan. 25 DELTA WebEx training.

The 2011 Minnesota Legislature enacted a law change governing the issuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for large feedlots. Previously, the law required NPDES/SDS permits for feedlots with 1,000 animal units or more, or that meet the federal definition of a Large Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). The revised state law (MN Stat. 116.07, Subd. 7c) now defers to the federal rule (40 CFR), which requires an NPDES permit only for CAFOs that discharge or propose to discharge. Non-permitted CAFOs will be held to a zero discharge standard. However, a facility still may retain its NPDES/SDS permit. However, Minnesota Rule 7020 (.0405, Subp. 1A) retains the requirement to obtain a State Disposal System permit for feedlots or manure storage areas capable of holding 1,000 animal units or more. An update of the rule is necessary to clarify which sites are required to have permit coverage. For more information, see the factsheet, "State Disposal System permit for large feedlots" on the MPCA feedlot webpage.

The Request for Comments (RFC) for the Animal Feedlot Rule Amendments relating to the proposed SDS permit is scheduled to be published in the State Register on Monday Dec. 19. The comments period will end on Jan. 20, 2012. The RFC is the first official step in starting the rule making process, and does not refer to the actual rule amendments, which will be developed in the coming year. Another public comment period on the draft amendments will occur then.

Manure can be a valuable resource, or a pollutant. During winter land applications, preventing manure from becoming a pollutant can be especially challenging. The risk of pollution increases with applications near waters. Those who are land applying manure this winter are reminded that minimum setbacks are required by state law, and that for NPDES permit holders liquid applications are prohibited except for “emergency applications."

A minimum 300-foot setback from surface waters applies to all manure spread onto frozen or snow-covered soils. Manure may not be applied within 300 feet of a lake, stream, ditch, tile intake, or wetland. A 300-foot setback can also be used to meet requirements for wells, mines, quarries and sinkholes. Minimum rates per acre and other permit conditions may also apply if the facility has a feedlot permit. Also, avoiding winter applications, especially during February, March or April when the risk of melting and runoff is the highest, can help reduce the risk of pollution. If you need more specific information on winter requirements please refer to the feedlot permit for the facility or your regional feedlot office.

The dates and some speakers have been confirmed for the 2012 Commercial Animal Waste Technician training.

For more information, contact: Dr. Jose Hernandez, Extension Educator - Nutrient Management, University of Minnesota, (612) 625-4731.

The comment period ended Dec. 9 for a proposed rule to establish general regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate when animal disease events take place. The topic was the subject of a panel discussion Dec. 2 at the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association convention. "Under the proposed rule, unless specifically exempted, livestock moved interstate would have to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation, such as owner-shipper statements or brand certificates. The proposed rule encourages the use of low-cost technology and specifies approved forms of official identification for each species, such as metal eartags for cattle," according to the USDA animal disease traceability webpage. The MSCA panel included: J.D. Alexander, National Cattlemen's Beef Association president-elect; Billy Bushelle, Bagley Livestock Exchange manager; Neil Hammerschmidt, USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service traceability project manager; and Dr. Bill Hartmann, state Board of Animal Health director.

Jeff Johnson, USDA farm loan specialist located in the Willmar FSA office, is retiring after 34 years of government service. For future issues with conservation loans, Inventory farm easement management or NEPA compliance items that deal with FSA Farm Loan Programs, the appropriate contacts would be Stuart Shelstad, State Farm Loan Chief at 651-602-7715, Doug Kunde, State Farm Loan Specialist, 507-537-1401 x107 or Krista Manor, State Farm Loan Specialist, 651-602-7713. "I fully intend to remain engaged in some form of environmental or real estate endeavors so the chance remains that we may well meet again along the trail or creek or slough or feedlot," Jeff says.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is Jan. 13, 2012. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012. A CSP self-screening checklist is available on the CSP webpage.

Comments sought on proposed swine expansion in Steele County

MPCA news release, 12/12/11

Renville County mega cattle feedlot nearly done

West Central Tribune, 12/711

MPCA news release, 11/21/11

MPCA enforcement actions total nearly $690,000 in third quarter of 2011

MPCA news release, 11/21/11

Jan 13-14: Organic Farming conference, River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud

55 delegated counties - Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, LeSueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Renville, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine.