Feedlot Update - Dec. 12, 2013

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Feedlot Update

Dec. 12, 2013

ALJ issues report on proposed amendments to feedlot rule

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 a good time to review manure management

winter land app

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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Counties to record all categories of producer assistance

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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Feedlot registration tally increasing as Jan. 1 due date nears

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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News briefs

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

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."

lloyd kalfs

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!

krause dairy

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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Workshop Jan. 23 on livestock truck roll-over response

livestock truck rollover

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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Livestock and Poultry Learning Center newsletter

LPE News logo

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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In the news

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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Calendar

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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Share the news

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