Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Feedlot Update
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sent this bulletin at 04/27/2011 02:24 PM CDTHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
MPCA Feedlot Update - April 27, 2011
Delegated county performance credit payments for 2010 will be awarded soon to eligible counties. A total of $224,535 is being distributed. Counties earn performance credits with activities such as inspections (site, land application, or construction), achieving site improvements, hosting producer workshops, and attending training. Nearly 3,000 inspections and 278 environmental upgrades were reported by delegated counties in 2010.
Steele County CFO and MACFO President Dan Vermilyea testified before the Senate Environment Committee March 22, asking to scale back the amount of a proposed funding cut to the county feedlot program. The omnibus environment bill called for a 15 percent cut, which would allocate $1,665,000 per year for the next biennium. Following Dan’s testimony, the Senate committee voted to reduce the cut from 15 percent to 7 percent, or an allocation of $1,810,000 per year for the Senate version of the bill. In the current biennium, the amount is about $1.9 million. The bill (HF 1010) is currently in conference committee.
In This Issue
Performance credits awards being distributed for 2010
Vermilyea testifies for reducing proposed cut to county program funding
Composting handling carcasses from hog barn fire
Composting is being used to process about 300 sow carcasses as the result of a fire April 4 that destroyed five barns near Goodhue, about 2 miles southwest of Red Wing. County, PCA, and BAH staff met at the site to concur on disposal. A concrete slab next to the farm’s current composting site was large enough to handle the quantity. Compost material was hauled in, and the clean-up went well, according MPCA Rochester office staff. Manure solids and carcasses will be disposed of on-site after it is composted. Building debris was hauled away for recycling and or to the landfill. The farm is registered for 840 animal units, and plans are to rebuild.
Training opportunities
Nutrient management trainings May 5, 10
Nutrient management training for CFOs and MPCA feedlot staff is scheduled at two locations in May: Thursday, May 5, 2011, 9:30 – 3:30 Blue Earth County Government Center, Mankato; and Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 9:30 – 3:30 Douglas County Public Works Building, Alexandria. The course targets staff who have a basic understanding of manure management planning but are looking for some additional information on the underlying research, environmental concerns, and economics that support the UM manure management recommendations and MPCA manure application requirements. This six-hour course will be taught by University Extension Specialist, Jose Hernandez, PhD. To register for the course contact Courtney Ahlers, courtney.ahlers@state.mn.us.
MinnFARM refresher
A refresher for MinnFARM users via WebEx is scheduled for 10 a.m. – noon, Wednesday, June 8, with David Schmidt, engineer, Dept. of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, U of M. WebEx information will be distributed at a later date. Updated training dates and locations can be found on the Feedlot Program Training and Events webpage. Also, watch your e-mails for a SNAP survey regarding the upcoming regional CFO trainings this summer.
NPDES annual reports due in 2012 need non-transferred manure records
Owners and operators of NPDES-permitted livestock facilities are reminded that all land application records of non-transferred manure for the period of Sept. 1, 2010, to Aug. 31, 2011, are due to your regional MPCA office on an agency-approved form by March 1, 2012. The form is found at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=3555. There is also a record keeping form within MPCA’s Excel spreadsheet manure management planner for those using the planner. So far, nearly 90% (1,042) of the approximate 1,160 component-complete applications have been issued NPDES general permits for 2011-2016.
State veterinarian urges producers to vaccinate against anthrax
Producers in northwestern Minnesota are urged to vaccinate their cattle soon against naturally-occurring anthrax. Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. The bacteria can lie dormant for years in the soil. However, heavy rains and flooding can bring the spores to the surface, where they may be ingested by grazing animals. Livestock infected with anthrax die quickly, often exhibiting no symptoms until just before death. If you suspect anthrax contact your veterinarian immediately. The risk of humans developing anthrax from naturally occurring bacteria is extremely low. Minnesota has recorded no human cases of anthrax since 1953. For more information visit the Board of Animal Health website at www.bah.state.mn.us. – BAH news release
Board of Animal Health appoints Compart, Brake
Dean Compart of Nicollet was appointed to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on March 14. Dean and his family own Compart’s Boar Store, Inc., a family owned and operated swine breeding stock business in Nicollet. The company has more than 1,200 sows producing crossbred gilts and specializing in the production of pureline Duroc, Yorkshire, and Landrace boars and gilts. The company recently implemented a branded pork program. The Compart Family Farms Premium Duroc Pork Label provides pork to national and international white tablecloth restaurants and up-scale grocery stores. Steve Brake of Wilmont was reappointed to the Board on March 21. Brake is a cattle and swine producer from southwestern Minnesota. He has been farming since 1979 and currently farms 1,500 acres in Nobles County. He is the past president of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association and served on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Board of Directors.
Livestock & Poultry Environmental Learning Center News - February 2011
http://www.extension.org/animal+manure+management
On the May 20 webcast, John Gay, Joe Harrison, and Liz Whitefield with Washington State University and Allison Costa with the US EPA AgSTAR program will update the latest research in anaerobic digestion. More...
Stocking Rate. What if you could rehearse the upcoming grazing season before turning a single animal out to pasture? Now you can! USDA ARS has developed a model that will allow producers to calculate an appropriate stocking rate for their land based on weather predictions for the upcoming growing season. More...Download the model at http://www.tinyurl.com/farmrange
Buffers & Antibiotics. Field tests by University of Missouri scientists have backed up laboratory research indicating that buffer strips of grass and other plants can reduce the amount of herbicide and veterinary antibiotics in surface runoff from farm plots. More...
Manure Management in No-Till & Forages. A series of articles is being published in the Journal of Environmental Quality that will discuss subsurface application of manure. Surface application of manures leaves nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) susceptible to being lost in runoff, and N can also be lost to the atmosphere through ammonia (NH3) volatilization. Tillage renders nutrients less vulnerable to runoff and volatilization loss. Tillage, however, destroys soil structure, can lead to soil erosion, and is incompatible with forage and no-till systems. More... See the related LPELC webinar "Manure Application in No-Till"
Manure Solids. The ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus in manure is low in relation to the nutrient needs of most crops. Therefore, crops tend to be overloaded with manure to meet the nitrogen requirement of agricultural crops, but the excess phosphorus from the process can damage the environment. In a new study, scientists tested the effectiveness of removing solids from dairy manure to improve yield by increasing the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio and reducing the loss of nitrogen by hastening soil infiltration. More...
County Profile: Douglas – Andy Siira
Alexandria and Douglas County may have more fame statewide because of the many lakes, the runestone, and Big Ole. But its 500 registered feedlots, many of which are small dairies, give CFO Andy Siira plenty of work. Not to mention, farming and raising beef cattle south of Brandon. Andy joined the Douglas County Land and Resource Management department just over a year ago, working primarily with the feedlot program. Before starting with Douglas County he had been farming with his father at their grass-based dairy operation. Three years ago they transitioned into the beef operation. “The past year has been an exciting, yet challenging year full of new experiences and great opportunities,” Andy says. “I went through a big learning curve, but feel I have started to get my feet under me in running an effective feedlot program here in Douglas County. We have a little of everything when it comes to livestock, but the majority are dairy farms. We have a lot of lakes, which results in a large number of sites within shoreland areas. So far this spring I have been busy lining up projects with several producers, and I hope to see that continue. There are also a couple projects that were started last fall that I hope to see completed yet this spring.” Andy and Barry Bouwman of Pope County are planning on putting on a feedlot meeting for producers this fall. Andy is also on the Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers (MACFO) board and has enjoyed following and getting involved with legislative issues. Douglas County Animal Agriculture Web page: http://www.co.douglas.mn.us/LRM_Animal_Agriculture_Home.htm
Delegated county news
In Dodge County, Ken Folie retired March 31. In 1998, Ken began working part-time in the planning and zoning office, taking on feedlot duties in 2001. For the time being, Zoning Administrator Melissa DeVetter will be handing feedlot program work. Feedlot program mail should be addressed to Melissa at 22 6th St. E., Dept 123, Mantorville, MN 55955, instead of the SWCD office at Dodge Center.
Andy Geiger has been hired in Cottonwood County. He replaces Mike Hanson. Andy worked for the Jackson County Highway Dept. and also at the St. James Wastewater Treatment Facility. He attended college at Iowa Lakes Community College for environmental studies. He grew up in Ormsby and worked in his dad’s repair shop. He now lives on a farm with wife, Bridgett, and 3-year-old daughter, Avery. He helps with his father–in-law’s farming operation and enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time. Contact info: andy.geiger@co.cottonwood.mn.us, 507-831-2060.
In Stearns County, Don Adams, director of the Environmental Services Dept. and CFO, reportedly is retiring May 6. Interim director will be Angie Berg, who has been director of the Land Use Division for 10 years.
Jon Bloemendaal jbloemendaal@co.murray.mn.us, Murray County, has a new phone number: 507-836-1164.
Feedlot Update moving to new distribution service
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. The April edition of the Feedlot Update is now posted at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/yhiz69e. It is also attached as a PDF for your convenience. If you have any questions about the Feedlot Update or GovDelivery, please call or email me. You can now sign up for a variety of newsletters and information alerts on environmental topics. For details, go to: https://admin.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNPCA/subscriber/topics?qsp=MNPCA_1. You will need to enter your email address before seeing the subscriber list, but you will receive updates and notifications only on topics you select. Also, you can hit the “cancel” button and your email address will not be placed on any subscription list. In addition, you may manage your subscription to Watershed Network News via this web page.
In The News
Hay Expo to draw 3,000 to Cannon Falls in June
Cannon Falls Beacon, 4/22/11
Comment Period for water pollution reports on Cottonwood, Redwood Rivers runs through May 25
MPCA news release, 4/21/11
Minnesota to Apply for Statewide TB-Free Status
MDH news release, 4/8/11
Calendar
June 8-9: Farm Progress Hay Expo, Henke’s Farm, Inc., Goodhue County. News article.
July 20: Minnesota State Cattlemen Summer Tour, Worthington.
July 20: North American Manure Expo, Norfolk, NE More...
The purpose of this electronic newsletter is to provide another communication tool for the MPCA and county feedlot officers. It will attempt to provide accurate, objective, concise, and timely information about the feedlot program, but not necessarily reflect official agency policy.
Please forward to anyone who might be interested in this information. If you know of anyone who would like to be on this distribution list, please send us their e-mail address. If you have any questions, or would like to suggest a newsletter topic, please contact Forrest Peterson, MPCA Willmar office, 320-441-6972, forrest.peterson@state.mn.us. Thanks.
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