Owners of 22,000 registered feedlots need to re-register by Jan. 1

St. Paul, Minn. -- Owners of an estimated 22,000 livestock feedlots registered in Minnesota must submit updated registration information to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) by Jan. 1, 2014. The information includes location, type of operation, and number of livestock.

“Feedlot registration helps the state protect the environment by targeting resources for improvements where they are most needed,” Randall Hukriede, an MPCA feedlot program manager, said. “Registration also helps us communicate with livestock producers about regulatory and educational information.”

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. Records show that approximately 13,500 feedlot owners have already re-registered for the current cycle.

Feedlot owners who have not already re-registered will receive a registration form from 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. On Aug. 15, MPCA regional offices mailed forms to more than 3,000 feedlot owners in 33 counties that are not delegated to administer the state feedlot rules.

“Accurate registration data are critical for county feedlot officers to run a successful feedlot program in their counties,” says Dan Vermilyea, president of the Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers and Steele County Feedlot Officer. “Registration data are used to develop inspection strategies based on feedlot type, size and relationship to surface water and wells. The data also help CFOs stay abreast of feedlot trends in their counties, which helps them develop pertinent educational materials and programs for the producers.”

Registration started with the feedlot rule revision enacted in 2000. It replaced the need for operating permits for the vast majority of livestock feedlots. Feedlots with 50 or more animal units and feedlots located in shoreland with 10 or more animal units located are required to register.

Currently, state permits are necessary only for feedlot construction or expansion with 300 or more animal units, or for feedlots needing to correct pollution problems, or for large feedlots — 1,000 or more animal units. About 1,200 large feedlots in Minnesota hold National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System permits. Counties also may require feedlot permits and/or conditional use permits.

More information and the Registration Form for Feedlots and Manure Storage Areas (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=3667) are available on the MPCA’s Feedlot Permit Information and Application Forms webpage (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/pyri69d) or from your county or MPCA regional office.

Proposed amendments to feedlot rules are open for public comment

St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announces a public comment period, from July 22 through Aug. 26, 2013, on proposed amendments to state rules regulating animal feedlots.

The MPCA proposes to amend these rules to address law changes made by the Minnesota Legislature in the 2011 special session. The MPCA is also taking this opportunity to remove obsolete rule requirements, address other law changes adopted since Chapter 7020 was revised in 2000, and provide clarification to certain existing rules in Chapters 7020, 7001 and 7002.

The MPCA regulates the collection, transportation, storage, processing and utilization of manure and process wastewaters associated with the operation of animal feedlots.  Since the 1970s, the MPCA has regulated feedlots primarily through permits, including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, State Disposal System (SDS) permits, and construction short form and interim permits, the latter two also issued by counties under delegation from the MPCA.

The proposed amendments include:

• incorporation of new statutory language eliminating the need to hold an NPDES permit except as required by federal law, while maintaining the requirement for larger feedlots to hold an SDS permit;
• incorporating other new statutory requirements enacted since the feedlot rules were last revised, including new statutory pasture definitions and 10-year terms for SDS permits;
• clarification of administrative requirements for permits, including the processes for issuance or denial of permits by delegated counties and modification of permits; and
• removal of obsolete language, such as provisions governing older forms of permits, and expired transitional requirements, such as the “open lot agreement.”

To review the proposed rule amendments and the Statement of Need and Reasonableness, together with the official public notice, which explains how interested persons can comment on the proposed amendments, go to the MPCA’s Public Notices webpage (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/yrwc6a9). Other rule documents are on the agency’s Feedlot Rulemaking webpage (www.pca.state.mn.us and search for “feedlot rulemaking.”

NDSU Feedlot School Set for Jan 27-28

North Dakota State University's Carrington Research Extension Center will hold its annual Feedlot School on Jan. 27-28, 2011.

This intensive course is for cattle producers, feeders, backgrounders, feed industry personnel, animal health-care suppliers and anyone else who is
interested in learning more about feedlot production, nutrition, waste management and marketing.

Topics will include feeding programs; feeds and animal requirements; optimizing nutrient use; carcass quality; facility management; diseases, treatments and health programs; feed delivery; bunk reading; waste and nutrient management; ration formulation; feed additives and implanting strategies; marketing using futures and options; budgeting; custom feeding; and business management. The school also will include a commercial feedlot tour.

Instructors include faculty from NDSU's Animal Sciences Department, and the Carrington and North Central Research Extension Centers, as well as others who have extensive experience working with northern Plains feedlots.

The registration fee is $100 per person or $150 for two people from the same operation.

The deadline to register is Jan. 20. The fee does not include lodging.

Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. Lodging is available at the Chieftain Conference Center, (701) 652-3131, or the Carrington Inn and Suites, (701) 652-3982.

For more information about the course or to register, contact Foster County Extension agent Joel Lemer at (701) 652-2581 or joel.lemer@ndsu.edu.

The Carrington Research Extension Center is 3.5 miles north of Carrington on U.S. Highway 281.