The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) recently issued her report on the MPCA’s proposed amendments to the 7020 feedlot (and related) rules, for which a public hearing was held on Sept. 9, 2013. The report is available on the Office of Administrative Hearings webpage. Within it, the ALJ approved a majority of the amendments as initially proposed. The ALJ report also enumerates defects found with some of the proposed amendments that were not approved, together with suggestions for correcting those. The MPCA is currently reviewing the ALJ report and is targeting bringing the proposed amendments to the MPCA Citizens' Board for a decision in February 2014.
As identified on the Feedlot Rulemaking webpage, the MPCA has proposed these amendments to align the rules with statutory changes made by the legislature in 2011, to remove obsolete rule requirements and address other statutory changes, and to provide clarification to certain existing rules.
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Winter is a good time for livestock producers to catch up on
manure application records or updating manure management plans. Also, for farms
with a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, it's not too early to think about annual reports due March
1.
After Dec. 1, feedlots with a NPDES permit cannot surface
apply liquid manure if the field is frozen or snow covered. NPDES permit
holders can apply solid manure after Dec. 1 if their manure
management plans included winter application and those plans were
reviewed and approved by MPCA.
Solid manure is described as having 15 percent or more solids and is
handled as a solid. Conversely, liquid manure is considered anything that does
not meet the definition of solid manure. Please review the NPDES permit for
specific requirements for winter application of manure.
All livestock operations that
land apply manure in winter on frozen or snow-covered fields must keep at least
300 feet from lakes, streams, intermittent streams, public waters wetlands,
drainage ditches without berms, and open tile intakes. The following
guidelines should be considered when applying manure in the winter:
- Avoid spreading during active snowmelt or if predicted temperatures within the
next 24 hours will exceed 40 degrees Fahrenheit;
- Avoid spreading
when rainfall over ¼ inch is expected within 24 hours;
- Pick the flattest fields available. Slopes should be less than 6
percent.;
- Spread manure where tillage is on the contour and the furrows are not filled
with ice or water;
- Plan ahead so if possible manure is not spread on top of snow in the late
winter early spring (late February, March, beginning of April) when rapid
snow melt could occur;
Planning before fall harvest
begins could help in getting the greatest benefit from the nutrients and reduce runoff discharges:
- Apply after the soil temps are
below 50 degrees, especially on coarse textured soils;
- Apply and incorporate manure
within 24 hours on fields with sensitive features;
- Apply and incorporate manure on fields that have slopes greater than 6 percent.
And if winter application is
planned, use the flattest fields or the flattest portions of fields for winter applications.
More information is available on the MPCA feedlot program manure and nutrient management webpage, or by contacting your county feedlot officer or MPCA regional office.
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In order to get a more accurate and complete record of assistance provided to livestock producers, county feedlot staff will be tracking time spent on assistance otherwise not accounted for with formal permitting and inspections. County feedlot staff have received a simple tracking form and instructions, developed jointly by the MPCA and Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers. The assistance categories are: Technical, permit applications, land application/manure management, developing a new manure management plan, and other. The MACFO board encourages each county to participate as the data collected will be used to provide information to the Legislature on what the delegated county feedlot program does above and beyond minimum program requirements. Tracking assistance to feedlot producers can help measure environmental results. The legislature seeks accountability for state funds given to 54 counties delegated to administer the state feedlot rule for small and mid-size feedlots.
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A total of 16,662 feedlots have been re-registered, prior to the Jan. 1 deadline. Of that number, the 54 delegated counties have re-registered just over 15,000. The total number is about 80 percent of the number that were registered for the previous four-year registration cycle. Some counties expect a decline in registered feedlots of up to 10 percent. Feb. 1 is the deadline for delegated
counties to complete their re-registration duties. Any county that anticipates not meeting this deadline should contact their assigned MPCA staff person before the end of the year.
Registration is required for feedlots with 50 or more animal units, or 10 or more AU in shoreland. The information includes location, type of operation, and number
of livestock. The state’s feedlot rule requires all feedlot registrations
to be updated at least once in a four-year cycle. The current four-year cycle
runs from Jan. 2, 2010, to Jan. 1, 2014. Feedlot owners who have not already re-registered should contact either their local county office or an MPCA regional
office. The feedlot owner must review the information on the form, make any
needed corrections, and return the form to the appropriate office. More
information and the Registration Form for Feedlots and Manure Storage Areas
are available on the MPCA’s Feedlot Permit Information and Application Forms
webpage or from county or MPCA regional offices.
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Visit MPCA booth at cattlemen's convention, Ag Expo
If you plan to attend the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association convention in Alexandria Friday or Saturday, be sure to stop by the MPCA feedlot program booth. Staff will be available to answer questions and provide helpful information about permitting, manure management, land application, and any other related issues. On Jan. 9 the MPCA will be participating in the trade show of the Ag Expo at the Verizon Center, Mankato.
New feedlot staff hired in Detroit Lakes office
Scott Schroeder starts Jan. 6 with the MPCA feedlot staff in the Detroit Lakes office. A native of Richmond, he is a 2013 graduate of St. John's University, majoring in environmental studies with a minor in management. His previous work experience includes production technician with a native landscapes farm, and interning with the Stearns County SWCD. A new staff person is also expected to be named soon in the southeast region.
Mark Jacobs to retire in MPCA southwest region
Mark Jacobs, MPCA feedlot staff supervisor-west unit, has announced his retirement, effective Jan. 3. Mark began his career with the MPCA in 1984, working from the Marshall office. As a regional specialist, over the years he worked in a variety of programs: Solid waste, wastewater treatment, hazardous waste, air quality, and feedlots. In the immediate future, Mark plans to "do the things I like to do, golfing and fishing... I will have more time to do them now."
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Lloyd Kalfs returns home to continue rehabilitation after accident
We received this update on Lloyd Kalfs, water resource and feedlot technician – Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District, sent by Kay Clark, district administrator: Following the June 2013 accident Lloyd spent just over four months at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. On Nov. 27, Lloyd was released and returned to Okabena, where he is extremely happy to be home among his family and friends. The group 'Family and Friends of Lloyd Kalfs' sponsored a benefit on Nov. 30, which Lloyd was able to attend. The benefit included a chili and chicken noodle soup supper and silent auction. The event was a huge success with $45,850 raised to date. Anyone wishing to contribute can contact Family and Friends of Lloyd Kalfs, Box 12, Okabena, MN, 56161. Having Lloyd back home has made the Thanksgiving and Christmas season that much more special for the Kalfs family!
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Buffalo family named Dairy Farmers of the Year
The Krause family - Charles and Robyn Krause, their children, and Charles’ parents, Warren and Carol Krause - was selected Dairy Farms of the Year for their commitment and dedication to the community, future generations and the dairy industry. They manage a 475-acre farm with 165 milking cows near Buffalo. The award was presented by the Minnesota Milk Producers Association at the Dairy Expo Dec. 3. A video describing Krause Holsteins can be viewed at http://youtu.be/twwGdOdILrs. View the full news release here. Photo: Charles, right, and his son, Andrew, at milking time.
Milk Producers name Poppe Legislator of the Year
The Minnesota Milk Producers Association presented State Representative Jeanne Poppe (DFL – Austin) with their 2013 Legislator of the Year Award. The Association credited Poppe for demonstrating support to dairy farmers, the dairy industry and rural Minnesota by her actions at the State Capitol.
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A workshop on 'livestock truck roll-over response' will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 in Fairmont, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 920 E. 10th St. The presenter is Jennifer Woods, a livestock handling specialist from Blackie, Alberta, Canada, who has been delivering the livestock emergency response course throughout the United States and Canada since 1998. She has assisted fire departments and emergency responders at livestock accident scenes and is certified in technical large animal rescue. The workshop is being sponsored by Martin County Planning and Zoning, MN Pork Producers Association, MN Cattlemen's Association, and MN Turkey Producers Association. Please RSVP by Jan. 17 to 507-238-3242, wendy.chirpich@co.martin.mn.us, or bloed004@umn.edu. There is no fee, and space is limited to 300. Lunch will be provided by MN Pork Producers.
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Join us for the
second in a three-part series of webcasts that will cover the need to capture
nutrients for recycling off-farm, global phosphorus supplies, and technologies
that are being
used on-farm to capture nitrogen and phosphorus from manure. This installment
will feature two technologies that capture phosphorus and two for nitrogen. More…
Friday, Dec. 13, 2013 starting at 1:30 p.m.
Speakers
are: Joe Harrison, Washington State University, Dana Kirk, Michigan State
University, and Craig Frear, Washington State University.
The archive of part 1 is available at: http://www.extension.org/70087
How
Do I Participate?
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Water fight over Minn. pig farm goes to court MPR, 12/4/13 Winter workshops inspire while there's frost on the ground MDA news release, 12/4/13 Minnesota livestock producers can apply for 2014 grants MDA news release, 12/3/13 Dairy, turkey councils holding board elections MDA news release, 12/6/13 1 million gallons of manure spilled in Wisconsin this year Associated Press, 12/6/13 Report shows Farm Bill conservation practices reduce runoff of nutrients, sediment in Chesapeake Bay watershed NRCS news release, 12/5/13
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Dec. 12-14: MN State Cattlemen's Association convention, Arrowwood, Alexandria. Dec. 17-19: Cattle Feeder Days: Morris, Luverne, Tracy, Rochester. Online registration. Jan. 8-9: Ag Expo, Verizon Center, Mankato. Jan. 10-11, 2014: Minnesota Elk Breeders Association conference, Rivers Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud. Jan. 10-11: Minnesota Organic Conference, Rivers Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud. Jan. 14-15, 2014: Pork Congress, Minneapolis Convention Center. Jan. 23, 2014: Livestock truck roll-over emergency management class, Fairmont. Feb. 25-27, 2014: Central Minnesota Farm Show, River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud. March 11-12, 2014: Willmar Ag Show, Willmar civic center. March 18-20, 2014: Midwest Poultry Federation convention, St. Paul RiverCentre.
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The MPCA Feedlot Update
welcomes news submissifrom partners about, projects, people, and upcoming
events. Email submissions to 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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