Feedlot factoid
What is the average number of days for issuing NPDES general permits for feedlots?
Answer appears in one of
the articles below, and following the Calendar
From computer sessions, to in-person classes, county staff can receive extensive training and professional development in the feedlot program. A series of regional programs begins May 9 in Brainerd, with topics such as permit processing, data management, manure sampling, web-based manual, and a 'brushing up on basics' exercise. The latter uses individual keypads to record responses, which are immediately tabulated for quick feedback and discussion.
Sample question: Which of the following is not considered an environmental upgrade at a non-NPDES feedlot? (Answer appears below Factoid answer at end.)
- Reduction of herd size.
- Agreement by the owner to scrape and haul daily.
- Installing roof gutters.
- Closure or relocation of an open lot.
Other sessions follow at Detroit Lakes-May 10, Owatonna-May 16, and Redwood Falls-May 17.
On April 26, more than 30 county feedlot staff participated in an online training session. Topics included the recent memorandum of understanding on the disposal of livestock carcasses and debris from damaged structures, and burial of concrete and rebar. Training for new county feedlot staff is scheduled for Aug. 20-12 in the MPCA St. Paul training room.
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Three county feedlot staff recently have been hired to fill MPCA feedlot staff vacancies. Molly Costin and Allison Remer started April 25, in Detroit Lakes and St. Paul, respectively. Sara Isebrand started May 9 in the Mankato office. Previously, Molly was with Wadena County, Allison with Stearns County, and Sara with Blue Earth County. The Stearns County feedlot staff is down to two: Becky Schlorf-vonHoldt, who has been named CFO, and Richard Greunes.
In Wabasha County, Matt Kruger, feedlot tech in the SWCD office, continues to be the contact. In Kittson County, Brian Krippner has started in the SWCD office with feedlot program work. In Olmsted County, the county board reportedly approved a 0.8 feedlot tech position, following the retirement of Jim Stannard. Two vacancies remain in the MPCA feedlot program, one in St. Paul and one in Marshall. In Brainerd, Jessica Moore has transferred to the feedlot program from a biological monitoring unit.
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A total of 136 enforcement
actions were initiated by the MPCA feedlot program in 2011. This does not
include actions among the 55 delegated counties. Most (105) were letters of
warning and there were eight notices of violation. Both of these actions are alerts
about alleged violations of statue, rule or permit conditions, and do not
include monetary penalties. There were nine administrative penalty orders,
and six stipulation agreements. Of these, 13 were issued to large feedlots with
more than a 1,000 animal units and included monetary penalties
totaling $86,775. More information about enforcement as a regulatory tool
is available on the MPCA enforcement
webpage.
Reasons for notices of
violation issued in 2011 include: Construction or operation without
permit; land application of manure within sensitive features; and operation of a feedlot over the
permitted capacity.
Reasons for administrative
penalty orders issued in 2011 include: Failure to submit a facility
operation and maintenance annual report, discharge of manure from a land
application site, manure pit overflow, construction without a
permit, and discharge of manure from an open lot.
Reasons for stipulation
agreements issued in 2011 include: discharge of manure from a land
application site; failure to construct a manure pit in accordance with the
rules; construction and operation without a
permit, and discharge from manure basin and feed storage area.
For more than ten years under the state's rule (7020) governing livestock feedlots and the environment, the effort has experienced relative stability. As the result of recent legislation that cites federal law for issuing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System operating permits, the state must now reconcile that legislation with existing rule that requires a State Disposal System operating permit for livestock feedlots with 1,000 animal units or more. The MPCA feedlot program is planning to make a rule change that better defines conditions when an SDS permit for feedlots is needed. Regarding the timeliness of issuing permits, the MPCA feedlot program issued NPDES general permits within 72 days on average, well below the 150-day deadline imposed by a 2011 statute. MPCA permitting efficiency report to 2012 Legislature. Factsheet: State Disposal System permit for large feedlots.
Permits = prevention
The discussion also focuses attention on efforts to improve the permitting process, and the basic reasons for requiring permits. The underlying rationale is that permits are a means of prevention. In the long run, preventing negative environmental impacts is much more effective and less costly for everyone involved. Permits are tools that help communities, industry, and agriculture meet their environmental obligations. Without permits, the chance of negative environmental impact increases, and this may increase enforcement activity. This is costly, time-consuming, and unproductive when compared with operating according to permits.... 'an ounce of prevention....'. For general information about permits, see the MPCA permits and permitting process webpage. Looking
ahead to the June webcast: Pork and poultry carbon footprint
Livestock and poultry production has been shown to be a relatively minor
contributor to greenhouse gases in the U.S. Does that mean that the industry is
ignoring the issue? No way! Join us for a June 15 webcast that highlights
efforts from the swine and poultry producer organizations. More...
May
18: Nitrate Leaching
Do we still need to be concerned about nitrates and groundwater? Though air
and climate issues have received much more recent attention, the issue of
nitrates is still a thorny one, as evidenced by a recent California report
implicating agriculture as the source of 96% of nitrates reaching groundwater.
The May 18 webcast will take a look at several regional perspectives on
nitrates in groundwater. Speakers are Marsha Campbell Mathews, UC Davis; Mark
Risse, University of Georgia; Satish Gupta, University of Minnesota; and Rhonda
Miller, Utah State. More...
State program highlights
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Illinois: The University of
Illinois is developing a directory to assist farmers in finding custom
manure applicators. More...
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Iowa: Many agencies have
worked together to develop a program for open lot producers to quickly and
confidentially test whether manure from their lots could be reaching a
stream or drainage. For more.... Fact
Sheet | Video
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Washington: The Whatcom
Conservation District has developed a "manure advisory" website
that will analyze weather data and help farmers make decisions on when
(and when not) to spread manure. More...
Recognizing the economic challenges that face Minnesota dairy farmers today, The
Minnesota Project and Clean Energy Ambassadors launched a special initiative in
2011 to promote energy efficient dairies and speed the process of identifying
and installing top-notch energy-saving improvements. This effort includes
working with vendors who supply energy-related farm equipment as well as
electric cooperatives and utilities, which offer rebates or other incentives for
energy-related improvements. Dairy Energy Efficiency Initiative
Open to ag producers in three priority watersheds: Chippewa River, Elm Creek Seven Mile Creek
The Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide Environmental Quality Incentives Program funding and advice to producers to
install conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces
in watersheds with impairments where the federal investment can make a
difference to improve water quality. E ligible producers in Chippewa, Elm Creek, and Seven
Mile Watersheds will invest in voluntary conservation actions to help
provide cleaner water for their neighbors and communities. The selected
watersheds were identified with help from state agencies, partners, and the
NRCS State Technical Committee. NRCS news releases. MPCA watershed webpage. Worthington Daily Globe, 5/3/12
Winona Post, 4/22/12
May 15: LeSueur River Watershed potluck, 4-8 p.m., Red Jacket Park, Mankato. Call 877-269-2873.
June 4: Lamb and wool tour, Pipestone. Contacts: mike.caskey@mnwest.edu, or philip.berg@mnwest.edu. July 9-10: Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association summer beef tour, Little Falls.
Oct. 16-18: Minnesota
Association of County Feedlot Offices annual convention, Willmar.
Factoid answer
72 days (March-December 2011)
Quiz question answer
2. Agreement by the owner to scrape and haul daily.
The MPCA Feedlot Update
welcomes news submissifrom partners about, projects, people, and upcoming
events. Email submissito 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. Past issues of Feedlot Update are available on the feedlot program publications webpage.
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