Feedlot program Q&A
Question: For feedlots with NPDES permits, liquid manure land application after Dec. 1 is allowed under either of what two conditions?
Answer following Calendar
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After a brief absence due to budget cuts, the Pollution Control Agency has resumed participating as a vendor at a limited number of livestock trade shows. The agency set up displays at the Midwest Dairy Expo Nov. 27-28 in St. Cloud, and the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association convention Dec. 7-8 in Alexandria. The next event scheduled is the Minnesota Pork Congress Jan. 16-17 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
At the trade shows, MPCA feedlot program staff are available to answer questions and provide information about the program. Publication handouts include "Manure Application Rate Guide," "Applying Manure in Sensitive Areas," and "Manure Nutrients - Short Plan."
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Pork Congress Jan. 16-17
In addition to having a booth at Pork Congress, Wayne Cords, MPCA feedlot program east region supervisor, is on the program for continuing education for manure applicators. On Wednesday, Jan. 16, starting at 12:20 p.m. Wayne will be giving an update on the feedlot program and manure management.
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The proposed update of the 7020 feedlot rule is proceeding through the review process. The draft rule and the Statement of Need and Reasonableness are in the final development stages. Following any comments and changes, the draft will go to the governor's office, which will have 21 days to review, possibly in January. A public comment period will follow. Statutory and other changes since the rule began in 2000 make an update necessary. Some provisions are outdated, and other housekeeping changes and clarifications are needed. Completion of the rule update is expected by May of 2013. A general State Disposal System permit for feedlots of 1,000 animal units or more is being developed simultaneously, and is expected to be available by July 2013.
The MPCA feedlot program recently reported to EPA the numbers of inspections at Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations for the federal fiscal year 2012 (Oct. 1, 2011 – Sept. 30, 2012). A total of 351 inspections exceeds the target by 102. The extra inspections will help ensure that all CAFOs are inspected at least once every five years. During this time period, there are were 1,245 CAFOs in the MPCA feedlot database.
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Total inspections conducted – 351
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Total facilities inspected - 334
- Compliance inspections conducted – 154
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Land application of manure inspections conducted – 188
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Compliance and land application of manure inspections conducted – 18
Surface application of liquid manure is not allowed for NPDES-permitted facilities after Dec. 1 if the ground is frozen or snow covered, (Winter). Liquid manure application after Dec. 1 is only allowed under either of the following two conditions: 1) the ground is not frozen and liquid manure can be immediately incorporated, ie injected; or, 2) emergency application of liquid manure. Liquid manure cannot be surfaced applied on top of snow and then incorporated after Dec. 1. The general permit defines 'emergency' as primarily a situation beyond the control of the permittee, such as unavoidable equipment failure or unusual weather conditions, and is subject to additional setbacks, slope, and application rate restrictions. The permittee shall notify the Minnesota Duty Officer and the MPCA within 24 hours of an emergency application. Solid and liquid manure applied during the winter can only be applied to fields indicated in a manure management plan (MMP) as possibly receiving winter application of manure. The MMP must have been reviewed and approved by the MPCA. Please review your permit for additional information.
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Advisory Committee's recommendations have been submitted to Department of Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. He will review the recommendations and make final determinations about the program details and roll-out process. MDA will develop pilot projects in three watersheds in consideration of the committee recommendations. The advisory committee will continue to serve at key steps of the process, and specifically will be convened to review the draft measurement tool.
The next step is to develop the program measurement tool, which will be based on NRCS products developed to assess conservation practices and effects. It will be reviewed by a team of scientists led by MDA with the strong support of NRCS. This process is likely to take a few months. Once the measurement tool is developed, we can move forward with the pilot projects. There will be an opportunity for public review and comment, but the details still need to be determined.
In an effort to better serve its citizens, the state of Minnesota is simplifying agency web addresses. The Board of Animal Health’s website can now be found at www.mn.gov/bah.
Please update existing links to this website and use www.mn.gov/bah when referring to the Board of Animal Health on printed materials. If you have any questions, please call the Board’s media line at 651-201-6830.
The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts will be relocating its office on Friday Dec. 21. During the move, they may be off line from Dec. 21, 2012 – Jan. 2, 2013. They will return e-mails and telephone calls as soon possible.
Please update your address books with the new mailing address:
255 Kellogg Boulevard East #101
St. Paul MN 55101
Phone and fax numbers will remain the same.
Telephone: 651-690-9028
Fax: 651-690-9065
If you have questions contact Stefanie Martinez.
Jan. 25 webcast: Manure application risk management tools and advisory systems
1:30 p.m., Jan 25. Application of manure during inopportune times can lead to runoff from fields and pollution of adjacent waterways. This webcast will highlight three states working on unique and innovative ways to identify and avoid high-risk manure application times and locations. More...
Speakers: Nichole Embertson, Whatcom Conservation District, Kevan Klingberg, University of Wisconsin, Sara Walling, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Peter Kleinman and Anthony Buda, USDA Agricultural Research Service.
Videos in Spanish on manure sampling
Two new Spanish language videos are available on the topic of manure sampling. These videos were translated from existing videos with permission from the Iowa Learning Farms project. Dry manure sampling | Liquid manure sampling. The English versions of these videos are also available by searching for "manure sampling" at the LPELC YouTube channel.
Nutrient data tool
EPA has developed a new data access tool with information on nutrient pollution in our Nation's waters. The data also includes water quality problems or potential problems related to this pollution; and potential sources of these pollutants. This tool and data layers represent the best information currently available, may not be complete for all watersheds. More...
ERS nitrogen report
A new USDA Economic Research Service report examines trends in nitrogen inputs on corn from 2001-2010. Technical and financial assistance have promoted best management practices and the use of best nitrogen management (including manure management) practices has improved since 2001, although excessive amounts of nitrogen continued to be applied on 31 percent of corn acres in 2010. More...
Wisconsin makes progress in nutrient management planning
Agri-View, 12/13/12
Jan. 11-12, 2013: Minnesota Elk Breeders Association annual conference, Holiday Inn, Alexandria.
Jan. 16-17, 2013: Minnesota Pork Congress, Minneapolis Convention Center.
Jan. 27-29, 2013: Ag Expo, Verizon Wireless Center, Mankato.
March 13-14, 2013: Midwest Poultry Federation Convention, St. Paul RiverCentre.
Answer:
1) The ground is not frozen and liquid manure can be immediately incorporated, ie injected; and 2) emergency application of liquid manure.
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.
Forrest Peterson
Public Information Officer
MPCA-Willmar office
320-441-6972
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