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A draft permit for operating livestock
feedlots with 1,000 or more animal units will be open for public review and
comment Feb. 9 through March 11, 2015. The State Disposal System (SDS) permit
applies to about 1,000 feedlots, which account for a large portion of the
state’s total livestock population. In 2011 the state legislature
removed the requirement for feedlots that do not discharge water
quality contaminants to have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. However, the SDS permit remains in state law, requiring
the development of a separate state permit.
The NPDES and SDS permits are very
similar. They have many of the same provisions, such as manure management plans
and reporting requirements. SDS permits will be issued for 10-year periods. The
NPDES permit covers five years. The NPDES permit authorizes a discharge to waters of the
U.S. due to excessive rainfall; the SDS permit prohibits such a discharge in
any circumstance. Compliance with an NPDES permit assures that a discharge
related to land application activities will qualify for the agricultural
stormwater exemption afforded under federal law; the SDS permit does not.
Livestock farms with existing NPDES/SDS
permits can continue to operate with this permit until it expires in 2016.
Beyond that time they have the option of continuing with the federal NPDES
permit, which will fulfill the state law requirement. More information on the draft SDS permit for
feedlots will be available from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on the Web at
www.pca.state.mn.us/feedlots, or by calling the
MPCA toll-free 1-800-657-3864. A fact sheet, “NPDES and SDS permits for
feedlots,” is available on the web at: www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=16385.
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 Despite industry concerns about disease, the 2015 Minnesota Pork Congress Jan. 20-21 saw good attendance by pork producers and industry businesses and organizations. Many stopped by the MPCA booth at the trade show, which offered information about permitting, construction, and manure management. Swine feedlots account for a large majority in Minnesota of the combined federal-state permit for large CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) or more than 1,000 animal units (3,334 market hogs). Steve Schmidt, east feedlot unit supervisor, participated in the manure applicator workshop. Photo: Desiree Hohenstein and George Schwint talk with a visitor at the MPCA exhibit.
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Annual report forms for
livestock farms with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System permits
are now available on the MPCA feedlot program website. Completed forms,
including land application records, are due March 1. Links to the
form are located on the feedlot program main page, and permits and forms webpage, or download the document. Paper copies of the report may be requested by
contacting the MPCA regional offices. The office phone
numbers are listed on page 5 of the report. For farms that do
not transfer manure, land application records can also be generated using the
MPCA excel based Manure Management Planner under Create Crop Year Records.
These record forms may be used and submitted instead of the Records for 300 or
More Animal Units form. A link to the planner is located on the feedlot program Nutrient and Manure Management webpage.
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University
of Minnesota Extension is hosting workshops across the state presenting
strategies that land-limited livestock producers can use to bring their
operations into phosphorus import-export balance. When farm-gate imports of
phosphorus exceed exports, soil test phosphorus can climb into the range where
phosphorus in runoff impairs receiving water bodies. Randy Pepin, UM Extension educator, has conducted in-depth analyses of 20 dairies and beef feedlots
in livestock dense areas of Minnesota. Case studies illustrate strategies to redress phosphorus
imbalances. State and county feedlot program staff and livestock producers are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Randy Pepin at pepin019@umn.edu or 320-333-1369.
Currently scheduled workshops:
Feb. 5, Sibley County Service Center, Sibley Rm, 111 8th
St. Gaylord, MN. Registration 9:30, program 10-2, contact: Julie
Sievert (507) 237-4106.
Feb. 6, Lion’s Building, 101 4th Ave NW, Rice,
MN. Registration 9:30, program 10-2, contact Emily Wilmes (320) 255-6169.
Feb. 17, Wilson Town Fire Hall, County Rd #12, Wilson,
MN. Registration 10, program 10:30-2, contact Jake Overgaard (507) 457-6440.
Feb. 18, Morrison County Gvmt Ctr, Rm #1, Little Falls, MN. Registration
9:30, program 10-2, contact Emily Wilmes (320) 255-6169.
Feb. 19, Meeker County Courthouse, 325 Sibley Ave N, Litchfield,
MN. Registration 10:30, program 11:00 –
2:00, contact Nathan Winter (320) 693-5275.
Feb. 20, Cold Spring Legion, 209 Main St. Cold Spring,
MN. Registration 9:30, program 10-2, contact Emily Wilmes (320) 255-6169.
Feb. 26, Sauk Centre City Hall Chambers, 320 Oak St S, Sauk
Centre, MN. Registration 9:30, program 10-2, contact Emily Wilmes (320)
255-6169.
Feb. 27, Wright County Government Center, Rm 120, 10 2nd
St. NW #201, Buffalo, MN. Registration noon, program 12:30-3, contact Rod
Greder (763) 682-7394.
Mar. 3, Fillmore County Office Building, 902 Houston St NW, Preston,
MN. Registration 10, meeting
10:30-2, contact Kristi Ruesink (507) 765-3896.
Mar. 4, Murray County Courts Building Meeting Room, 2848
Broadway Ave, Slayton, MN. Registration 10, program 10:30-2, contact
Melissa Runck (507) 836-6927.
Mar. 5, McLeod County Fairgrounds, 840 Century Ave SW,
Hutchinson, MN. Registration 10:30, program 11-2, contact Nathan Winter
(320) 484-4334.
Mar. 19, MN West Campus Room #127, 1314 N Hiawatha Ave,
Pipestone, MN. Registration 10,
program 10:30-2, contact Melissa Runck (507) 825-6715.
Mar. 26, Houston County Justice Center, 303 S Marshall St. Caledonia, MN.
Registration 10, program 10:30-2, contact Steve Richette (507)
725-5807.
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Family takes Dodge County feedlot issue to court - again
Owatonna Peoples Press, 1/14/15
Midwest Forage hosts three regional meetings
The Farmer, 1/23/15
Don't think residue or trash: Think carbon
Minnesota Farm Guide, 1/22/15
Judge rejects farm groups' lawsuit to keep EPA data private
AP, 1/28/15
PEDV still on minds at Minnesota Pork Congress
National Hog Farmer, 1/21/15
Dodge County feedlots under microscope
Rochester Post-Bulletin, 2/3/15
Nobles County proposes updates to feedlot ordinance
Worthington Daily Globe, 1/28/15
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Feb.
6-7: Pipestone lambing short course, bus tour,
Minnesota West College, Pipestone.
Feb. 9: Dairy Summit, U of M-St. Paul, 8:30-2 p.m.
Feb.
9: Crop nutrient management conference, Verizon
Center, Mankato.
Feb. 10: Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association Day at the Capitol, 9 a.m., Best Western, St. Paul.
Feb. 14: Sustainable Farming Association annual conference, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph.
Feb. 24-25: Midwest Manure Summit, Green Bay, WI.
Feb. 24-26: Central Minnesota Farm Show, River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud.
March 17-19: Midwest Poultry
Federation convention, St.
Paul RiverCentre.
March 28: Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers' spring workshop, Rafter P Ranch, Kensington.
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The
MPCA Feedlot Update welcomes news from partners about, projects, people, and
upcoming events. Email submissions to forrest.peterson@state.mn.us.
Past issues of Feedlot Update are available on the feedlot program publications webpage.
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